The government will introduce the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to introduce steeper fines for piracy, it indicated in Parliament. The Cinematograph Amendment Bill has been through procedural steps in Parliament since February 2019, since it was introduced, according to PRS Legislative Research. The government cited an industry report that piracy led to Rs 2,100 crore in annual losses to the media and entertainment industry in India. "In order to curb piracy of films, the Government introduced the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Rajya Sabha on 12.02.2019 to impose strict penalties against unauthorized duplication of films in cinema halls. The Standing Committee on Information Technology (2019-20) presented its Report on the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha on 16th March, 2020. The recommendations/ observations contained in the Report of the Standing Committee on Information Technology have been examined for making necessary amendment to clauses in the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and for the subsequent introduction of the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2021." — I&B Ministry in Parliamentary Response The government was responding to a Lok Sabha query by BJP MPs Sukanta Majumdar, Nisith Pramanik, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Bhola Singh, Rajveer Singh, and Vinod Kumar Sonkar. Full question and answer Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:- (a) whether Media and Entertainment Industry looses crores of rupees due to film, video, music and online piracy; (b) if so, the details of the quantum of such losses during the last…
