[Commons-Law] INDIA: Govt against curbing piracy with policy
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Govt against curbing piracy with policy
FICCI FRAMES 2008
BS Reporters / Mumbai March 26, 2008
In what is viewed as a setback for the film industry's efforts to stop
piracy, the government today rejected the recommendations of the draft
optical disk policy on grounds that it would lead to the creation of a
regime of inspectors, and thus go against the grain of the
liberalisation policy.
For the past few months, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
has been examining the draft optical disc law to check film piracy.
As the draft legislation, which included a code of regulations for
content, is being prepared by FICCI and members of the film industry
with the initiative of the government, a positive response is
expected.
However, addressing the FICCI-Frames 2008 convention here today, Union
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Secretary Asha Swarup made it
clear that the government was not in favour of implementing the
recommendations.
Acknowledging that the menace of piracy in the entertainment and media
industry was huge, she said the problem had to be tackled by closing
the gaps in the supply. "A possible way," she said, "is to release
films in 'C' and 'D' class towns in digital formats."
Swarup expressed her content with Pakistani films being released in
India and Indian films like Taare Zameen Par making an entry into
Pakistan. She said she hoped that with a new democratic government in
Pakistan, more Indian films would be screened there.
The secretary also emphasised the need to develop content for TV,
especially for children.
Meanwhile, the FICCI-PricewaterhouseCoopers 2008 report, released
today, estimates the industry at Rs 51,300 crore in 2007 - a growth of
17 per cent from Rs 43,800 crore in 2006. The Indian entertainment and
media industry is projected to clock Rs 1,15,000 crore by 2011.
In his address, Yash Chopra, chairman, FICCI Entertainment Committee &
Yash Raj Films, said that Indian cinema had transcended geographical
boundaries. However, he added: "Piracy, IP protection in the animation
segment and censorship are hurdles that the Indian media and
entertainment industry have to overcome."
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP and president of FICCI, pointed out that the
industry today had reached a point of critical mass. "I believe this
industry is poised to achieve the scale and size required to have
global value and presence," he said. The challenge for the industry
over the next few years, he said, was to become globally relevant to
the capital markets and investors; relevant to producers and consumers
of entertainment all over the world.
Kunal Dasgupta, co-chairman, FICCI Entertainment Committee & CEO Sony
Entertainment Television, said: "We are in talks with the Academy of
Television Arts and Science in the US, which represents the popular
Emmy Awards, and hopefully we will able to present an Indian version
of the popular Emmy Awards by next year."
Amit Khanna, chairman, Reliance Entertainment & FICCI Convergence
Committee, said new digital technology would reshape the distribution
and exhibition business.
"On-demand entertainment will become a standard industry norm," he said.
http://www.business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?tab=r&autono=318000&subLeft=4&leftnm=8
Govt against curbing piracy with policy
FICCI FRAMES 2008
BS Reporters / Mumbai March 26, 2008
In what is viewed as a setback for the film industry's efforts to stop
piracy, the government today rejected the recommendations of the draft
optical disk policy on grounds that it would lead to the creation of a
regime of inspectors, and thus go against the grain of the
liberalisation policy.
For the past few months, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
has been examining the draft optical disc law to check film piracy.
As the draft legislation, which included a code of regulations for
content, is being prepared by FICCI and members of the film industry
with the initiative of the government, a positive response is
expected.
However, addressing the FICCI-Frames 2008 convention here today, Union
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Secretary Asha Swarup made it
clear that the government was not in favour of implementing the
recommendations.
Acknowledging that the menace of piracy in the entertainment and media
industry was huge, she said the problem had to be tackled by closing
the gaps in the supply. "A possible way," she said, "is to release
films in 'C' and 'D' class towns in digital formats."
Swarup expressed her content with Pakistani films being released in
India and Indian films like Taare Zameen Par making an entry into
Pakistan. She said she hoped that with a new democratic government in
Pakistan, more Indian films would be screened there.
The secretary also emphasised the need to develop content for TV,
especially for children.
Meanwhile, the FICCI-PricewaterhouseCoopers 2008 report, released
today, estimates the industry at Rs 51,300 crore in 2007 - a growth of
17 per cent from Rs 43,800 crore in 2006. The Indian entertainment and
media industry is projected to clock Rs 1,15,000 crore by 2011.
In his address, Yash Chopra, chairman, FICCI Entertainment Committee &
Yash Raj Films, said that Indian cinema had transcended geographical
boundaries. However, he added: "Piracy, IP protection in the animation
segment and censorship are hurdles that the Indian media and
entertainment industry have to overcome."
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP and president of FICCI, pointed out that the
industry today had reached a point of critical mass. "I believe this
industry is poised to achieve the scale and size required to have
global value and presence," he said. The challenge for the industry
over the next few years, he said, was to become globally relevant to
the capital markets and investors; relevant to producers and consumers
of entertainment all over the world.
Kunal Dasgupta, co-chairman, FICCI Entertainment Committee & CEO Sony
Entertainment Television, said: "We are in talks with the Academy of
Television Arts and Science in the US, which represents the popular
Emmy Awards, and hopefully we will able to present an Indian version
of the popular Emmy Awards by next year."
Amit Khanna, chairman, Reliance Entertainment & FICCI Convergence
Committee, said new digital technology would reshape the distribution
and exhibition business.
"On-demand entertainment will become a standard industry norm," he said.
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