Rajya Sabha Passes Bill to Curb Film Piracy and Simplify Licensing Procedures

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed a significant bill aimed at curbing piracy and simplifying licensing procedures in support of the film industry. The bill, which amends the Cinematograph Act of 1952, proposes strict measures against piracy. Those found making pirated copies of movies could face up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of up to five percent of the film’s production cost.

Additionally, the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill-2023 suggests granting perpetual validity to film certificates issued by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) instead of the current 10-year validity period. The bill also introduces three age-based certifications under the ‘UA’ category, namely ‘UA 7’, ‘UA 13’, and ‘UA 16’. Moreover, it empowers the CBFC to grant separate certificates for film exhibitions on television or other media.

To combat film piracy, the bill introduces new sections in the Cinematograph Act, prohibiting unauthorized recording (section 6AA) and exhibition (section 6AB) of films. The provision 6AA strictly forbids recording films for personal use within the same device.

During the debate, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur emphasized that the bill was necessary to address the film industry’s significant losses of ₹20,000 crore due to piracy. He also highlighted that the proposed legislation aims to enhance the film certification process.

This move by the Rajya Sabha seeks to safeguard the interests of the film industry and promote a fair and piracy-free environment, encouraging growth in the entertainment sector.