India Cracks Down on Film Piracy, Authorizes Nodal Officers to Block Websites and Apps

New Delhi: In a significant move to combat film piracy, India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has authorized specific nodal officers to block websites, apps, and links containing pirated film content. This empowerment extends to officers of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), enabling them to not only block links but also order the removal of offending websites, apps, or links.

The new rule streamlines the process for copyright owners to take action against pirated content. They can now approach the nodal officers directly, eliminating the need for legal action through the courts. This initiative aims to address the film industry’s annual losses of up to Rs 20,000 crore due to piracy, marking the first direct action against piracy under the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 1952.

The empowered nodal officers can receive piracy complaints and instruct intermediaries to remove pirated content from digital platforms within 48 hours. This is a welcome move, as piracy has become more rampant with the proliferation of the internet. The amendments align with existing laws that address film piracy under the Copyright Act, 1957, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.