TGCSB introduces anti-piracy disclaimer and SOP to combat film piracy

The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGSCB) launched a new anti-piracy disclaimer to be displayed before movie screenings in theatres and introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for investigating film piracy cases, as part of efforts to curb illegal recording and distribution of films.

The initiatives were launched during a stakeholder consultation meeting organised by the TGCSB in collaboration with the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce to strengthen coordination between law enforcement agencies and the film industry in addressing digital piracy.

The anti-piracy unit of the bureau had been set up on January 5 this year to focus on cases involving illegal recording, distribution and online circulation of films.

Shikha Goel, Director of the TGCSB, and Daggubati Suresh Babu, president of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce, formally launched the new disclaimer and the investigation protocol during the meeting.

Representatives from several industry stakeholders including UFO Moviez, Qube Cinema, Prasad’s Digital, K Sera Sera, Sony TSR, PVR INOX, Cinepolis, the Telangana Exhibitors Association, Ranga Cine Complex, Annapurna Studios, 82H Studios, Sarathi Studios and Deccan Dreams attended the consultation.

According to industry estimates shared during the meeting, the Telugu film industry incurs losses of nearly ₹13,700 crore annually due to piracy, while the losses to the Indian film industry are estimated at over ₹22,400 crore.

Officials said investigations into piracy cases indicate that illegal copies of films generally originate from two primary sources. These include leakage of high quality content before release at the post production or digital service provider level and cam recording inside theatres during film screenings, which accounts for a large number of piracy incidents.

The Standard Operating Procedure outlines steps for registration of cases under the Copyright Act, the Cinematograph Act and the Information Technology Act, along with procedures for digital evidence collection, forensic examination of pirated content and coordination with digital service providers and industry stakeholders.

It also details methods to identify the source theatre through watermarking and server data analysis, preservation of electronic evidence and action to block infringing websites and URLs under relevant Information Technology rules.

The anti-piracy disclaimer launched during the meeting will be displayed before film screenings in theatres and incorporated into screening packages used by digital service providers and exhibitors. The message warns viewers that unauthorised recording and distribution of films is a punishable offence and can attract imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to ₹3 lakh or five per cent of the production cost of the film.

Exhibitors were advised to retain CCTV recordings for at least one month after the release of a film and to implement theatre specific forensic watermarking systems to help trace the origin of pirated copies.

Officials of the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau said continued collaboration between the police and industry stakeholders would be essential to curb piracy and protect the livelihoods of those associated with the film sector.