Hyderabad, Mar 16 (TNT): The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB), in collaboration with the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC), has launched a new anti-piracy disclaimer for theatres and a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for investigating film piracy cases to curb digital piracy.
The initiatives were launched by Shikha Goel, Director of TGCSB, and Daggubati Suresh Babu, President of TFCC, during a stakeholder consultation meeting held in Hyderabad on Monday to strengthen coordination between law enforcement agencies and the film industry.
The anti-piracy disclaimer will be displayed before movie screenings in theatres to create awareness among audiences about the legal consequences of film piracy and unauthorised cam-cording inside cinema halls.
The newly introduced SOP provides a structured framework for registering cases, collecting digital evidence, identifying source theatres through watermarking and server data analysis, and blocking infringing URLs under relevant provisions of the Copyright Act of India, Cinematograph Act and Information Technology Act 2000.
According to industry estimates discussed at the meeting, the Telugu film industry loses nearly ₹3,700 crore annually due to piracy, while the Indian film industry suffers losses of over ₹22,400 crore.
Investigations indicate that piracy typically originates from two sources—leakage of high-definition film content before release at the post-production or digital service provider level, and cam-cording inside theatres during screenings.
Representatives from several film distribution and exhibition organisations, including UFO Moviez, QUBE Cinema, PVR INOX and Cinepolis, attended the meeting along with other industry stakeholders.
Speaking on the occasion, Shikha Goel said film piracy has evolved into a highly organised cybercrime ecosystem and requires coordinated action between law enforcement and industry stakeholders.
Suresh Babu highlighted the severe economic impact of piracy on the film ecosystem and stressed the need for collective responsibility across production, distribution and exhibition sectors.
Rajkumar Akella, Chairman, Anti Video Piracy Cell, Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce, noted that the SOP will help improve response time, investigation processes, and evidence collection in piracy cases.
The disclaimer warns audiences that film piracy and unauthorised recording of films is a punishable offence, carrying imprisonment of up to three years and/or a fine of up to ₹3 lakh, or 5 per cent of the film’s production cost, and is intended to act as a strong deterrent against the illegal recording and distribution of films.
The TGCSB said the new SOP and anti-piracy disclaimer are expected to strengthen deterrence, improve investigative efficiency and protect the livelihoods of thousands associated with the film industry.
TNT TS
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