Responding to an unstarred question on the unauthorised circulation of Indian films, Dr. Murugan said the government remains fully conscious of the adverse impact of digital piracy on the creative economy. He outlined several steps taken to curb piracy, particularly involving pre-release content and international piracy networks operating via the dark web and torrent platforms.
He also said that the government amended the Cinematograph Act, 1952, in 2023 to introduce stringent measures against digital piracy. The amendments include strict penalties, with a minimum ofthree months’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 3 lakh. The punishment can be extended up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to 5% of the audited gross production cost.
Further, Sections 6AA and 6AB of the revised Act prohibit unauthorised recording and transmission of films, while Section 7(1B)(ii) empowers the government to issue necessary directions to intermediaries hosting pirated content.
The minister further stated that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Central Board of Film Certification are now empowered to receive complaints from copyright holders or authorised persons and to issue necessary takedown directions to digital intermediaries.
He also pointed to the government’s engagement with stakeholders and law enforcement agencies as part of its broader anti-piracy effort.As part of these efforts, the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) featured a competition focused on developing technical solutions to combat digital piracy.According to The Rob Report released by EY and the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) in 2024, the size of India’s piracy economy was Rs 22,400 crore in 2023, ranking fourth among the segment-wise revenues of India’s Media and Entertainment industry.
Of this, Rs 13,700 crore was generated from pirated content originating from movie theaters, while Rs 8,700 crore came from pirated OTT platform content. Potential GST losses were estimated to be as high as Rs 4,300 crore.
For India’s entertainment ecosystem to improve, the report said it is imperative for the government and private players to take a unified stand against piracy. Policies need to evolve as swiftly as the piracy landscape. Stricter enforcement mechanisms must be set in place by both the government and private organisations, it added.
It also stated that large-scale awareness programmes, watermarking of premium content, innovations in pricing and bundling, and forging international alliances must take place simultaneously to curb India’s growing piracy menace. An immediate regulatory overhaul, along with judicious enforcement action at a global level, will go a long way in addressing this threat.
