BIG MOVE: Union Cabinet amends Cinematography Act, makes penal provisions to curb piracy and unauthorised camcording. Details here

Days after Union Minister Piyush Goyal presented the interim budget 2019, announcing plans to combat film piracy and ease in the process to obtain permissions for shoots for the entertainment industry, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said that amendments have been made by the cabinet in the Cinematography Act, 1952 in order to tackle the film piracy & copyright infringement. 

Penal provisions have been made in the Cinematography Act, 1952 to prevent unauthorised camcording & duplication of films to digital which will lead to 3 years jail term or Rs 10 Lakh fine.

READ: Budget 2019 | Film Producers Express Delight At Announcements In Favour Of The Entertainment Industry

To tackle the menace of film piracy, the cabinet has approved amendments to the Cinematograph Act inserting a new Section 6AA for the prohibition of unauthorised camcording.

WATCH | Ease Of Shooting, Action Against Piracy: Piyush Goyal Announces Significant Measures For Entertainment Industry

While presenting the Union Budget on February 1, Piyush Goyal announced the set-up of a single window clearance for the ease of obtaining permissions for shootings and also presented a plan to introduce anti-camcording provisions in the Cinematograph Act to fight piracy. 

“Entertainment industry is a major employment generator. To promote Entertainment industry, single window clearance for ease of shooting films, earlier available only to foreigners, is now going to be made available to Indian filmmakers as well. Regulatory provisions will now rely more on self-declaration. We will also introduce anti-camcording provisions in the Cinematograph Act to control the menace of piracy,” the Union Minister had said. 

Welcoming the budget proposal for the entertainment industry, the B-Town producers expressed delight at the acknowledgement and praise of contribution of Indian cinema. One of the key announcements was the setting up of the single-window clearance for the ease of obtaining various permissions for shootings. The Producers' Guild called it a ‘significant step’ that can play a ‘huge role’ in the tourism of the country as well.