Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019 introduced in Rajya Sabha

The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2019 has been recently introduced in Rajya Sabha. The bill seeks to amend provisions of Cinematograph Act, 1952 in order to tackle film piracy by including penal provisions for unauthorized camcording and duplication of films. In order to tackle the menace of film piracy, the amendments provide for insertion of new Section 6AA for the prohibition of unauthorized recording and amendment in Section 7 to introduce penal provisions for violating provisions of section 6AA.

The insertion of new Section 6AA shall be inserted after Section 6A of the Cinematograph Act, 1952. Section 6AA asserts that notwithstanding any law for the time being in force, no person shall without the written authorization of the author be permitted to use any audio visual recording device to knowingly make or transmit or attempt to make or transmit or abet the making or transmission of a copy of a film or a part thereof.

The proposed amendments would increase industry revenues, boost job creation, fulfill important objectives of India’s national IP policy and will give relief against piracy and infringing content online.