MUMBAI: No online content is free of the hassle of battling piracy in India. The multi-million dollar film industry is arguably the most affected by piracy. Therefore, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting feels a necessity to have an enabling provision in the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

In a press release, MIB has proposed for the introduction of the Cinematograph Act (Amendment) Bill for the inclusion of a new sub-section (4) of section 7 of the act while penalties for contravention of provisions for certification of films for public exhibition are given under section 7.

MIB has also sought comments from the general public on the amendment by 2 February 2019. Comments can be submitted via email and in exceptional cases, submissions by post will be accepted.

The new sub section has been proposed with the following text:

“Notwithstanding any law for the time being in force including any provision of the Copyright Act, 1957, any person who, during the exhibition of an audiovisual work, cinematographic in an exhibition facility used to exhibit cinematograph films or audiovisual recordings and without the written authorisation of the copyright owner, uses any audiovisual recording device to knowingly make or transmit or attempt to make or transmit or abet the making or transmission of a copy or visual recording or sound recording embodying a cinematograph film or audiovisual recording or any part thereof or a copy of sound recording accompanying such cinematograph film or audiovisual recording or any part thereof during subsistence of copyright in such cinematograph film or sound recording, shall be punishable with imprisonment not exceeding three years and shall also be liable to fine not exceeding Rs.10 Lakhs, or to a term of imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both.”