MUMBAI: The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has cheered the ministry of information and broadcasting’s (MIB’s) decision to set up a dedicated task force to tackle the scourge of online piracy, calling it a long-overdue step to protect the country’s creative economy.
IAMAI’s digital entertainment committee said the initiative would help turn the tough provisions of the Cinematograph Amendment Act 2023 into action on the ground. The law introduced steep penalties for piracy and empowered authorities to crack down on illegal recordings and transmissions.
A 2024 “Rob Report”, published by EY and IAMAI, estimated that India’s entertainment sector—spanning OTT platforms and cinemas—loses Rs 224 bn annually to piracy, with 51 per cent of consumers admitting to watching pirated content. It urged stronger enforcement, fairer pricing and more innovative distribution models.
JioStar chief executive and chair of the digital entertainment committe Kiran Mani said IAMAI’s role in the task force would channel industry expertise into “decisive measures that safeguard our creative economy and fuel long-term growth.”
Inshorts a co-founder & chief executive and co-chair of the committee Deepit Purkayastha called piracy “one of the biggest hurdles” for the industry, adding that the task force was a chance to “set the stage for a stronger and more trusted entertainment industry.”
With a task force in place, the law tightened and industry voices aligned, India’s media and entertainment sector is finally poised to fight piracy with more than words.
(The picture shown above is just a representation of the task force and does not purport to depict either Shastri Bhawan or the industry executives who are part of the task force)