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MUMBAI, March 14

PIRACY, one of the gravest challenges facing the entertainment industry, necessitates initiatives such as changes in law as well as awareness programmes, according to a report presented by law firm Amarchand Mangaldas for FICCI Frames 2003.

Amendments to the existing provisions of the Copyright Act, 1957, are essential to "make enforcement stricter and remove existing loopholes in the Act which allows acts of piracy," the report said. Besides, the law firm has suggested an awareness programme to sensitise everyone concerned with enforcement to the perils of piracy. Quoting industry standards, the film and music industry loses around Rs 2,000 crore and Rs 700 crore respectively every year due to piracy.

According to the report, evolving technology is conducive to encouraging piracy. Enforcement mechanisms would include civil and criminal remedy. However, there are far too many insufficiencies in the legal framework.

In the last few years, several search-and-seizure raids have been carried out. However, these measures have not helped in curbing piracy. "The problem has become complex due to certain inconsistencies in the stature and lack of enforcement," the report said. The Indian music industry has carried out a number of raids in over 3,600 cases until June 2002 but only 191 cases have ended in convictions.

The industry is looking at a multi-pronged strategy to stem the problem. One of the proposals involves framing optical disc regulations wherein manufacturers and replicators of CD media are statutorily required to be licensed and registered and made to use codes.

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