Piracy is not a new market. Its deep roots date back to late 19th and early 20th century. In the west, during the silent film era, a form of film larceny known as 'bicycling' became popular, under which the exhibitors who had legally rented a film used to screen the film for an extended period or illegally screen the film in other theaters they own.
Talking about Indian context the topic of piracy came into limelight in 2016 when LEGAL CENSOR BOARD COPY OF " UDTA PUNJAB" was leaked online 3 days prior to its official release. Though the guilty person was arrested and duly punished and penalised but the loss was already done as makers suffered huge losses. Since then Industry has come together to aware the public specially younger generation about ill effects of piracy and why you shouldn't stream pirated copy. But the change that was desired is yet to arise.
By 1910, the business of piracy increased in which the new negatives using positive prints were made to reproduce unlimited number of pirated copies. By 1960, came the cam recording under which films were recorded in cinema halls and after that it continued to grow at a mammoth level. And the internet proved to be a blessing for them, as movie can be leaked within hours. Over the years, makers of the films have suffered huge losses and will continue to born until piracy is stopped.
The question is why do piracy occur? Why do people still prefer to watch pirated copies? Can piracy be stopped?
Simple answer is that they are all interrelated. Piracy simply occurs because there is a ready audience online to download the illegitimate copy of a movie. If people can be stopped from streaming and downloading illegitimate copies then piracy can be controlled to a specific level.
Now the biggest problem is how to stop people from viewing the illegitimate copies? The solution of it lies in the "WHY".
The answer to it is the COST INVOLVED in viewing the movie in theaters. Going to movies doesn't only involve Cost Of Ticket but also the cost of Food we buy in these cineplexes. And we all know the heavy amount charged by them. Plus the cost of movie tickets has increased in past few years. The average ticket pricing in major cities like DELHI, MUMBAI, BANGALORE etc is above Rs 350. So for family of 4, who will spend Rs 1400 just to watch a movie (Foods and beverages not included). As a result, the budget of many households in India is limited to 1 movie in theater in a year. This is where piracy comes in.
Who don't love freebies? Who will think of missing an opportunity of getting their free stuff for free of cost. Money saved is money earned. You can watch it anytime, any where, any number of times, in your comfort zone, at your own pace with your family and that too free of cost. This is a really good bargain. In thinking about our profit and our comfort zone, we forget about the losses suffered by the people who worked hard to create that content.
Many would say that despite Piracy, movie still earns 100's of crores, so where's the loss? Here it is,
Indian film industry, said to be the largest globally with some 1000 movies produced every year, earns around $2 billion from its legitimate sources such as screening at theaters, home videos and TV rights. But piracy earns 35 percent more than the legitimate resources, it earns $2.7 billion from Indian market which in itself is a mammoth amount.
Now the question arises can industry come together and take a call on it. To stop this piracy are they willing to sacrifice some amount of profit? Can they unitedly decide to bring down the average price, maybe to Rs 250? Or can they take measures to ensure the right and efficient price is charged in these cineplexes. I personally feel this is the major step that can motivate young generation to watch movies in theaters rather than pirated copies.
Also, other steps that can be taken by big celebrities is ensuring that proper security is there in theaters of their release and not to screen movies in theaters which are inefficient in providing the security. Security as in ensuring no cameras or video recording element(other than mobiles) are taken inside by the viewers. Also, with technology at our disposal, with trends they can track the piracy affected cinema halls and not release their movie there. This will help in curbing down the piracy but not totally eliminate it. For ensuring no piracy they need to ensure all areas are covered. To stop piracy from outside India celebs should come together to form a body to ensure major propositions are kept under their control so that movies don't get leaked at least till 2 weeks after their release. These things are just hypothetical, and can't be said right now how many of it can be implemented. But it is for sure if big celebs decide to come together and are ready to sacrifice a share of their profit in order to stop piracy, then the originality of the movies will be retained and business of piracy will suffer huge losses.
Simple answer is that they are all interrelated. Piracy simply occurs because there is a ready audience online to download the illegitimate copy of a movie. If people can be stopped from streaming and downloading illegitimate copies then piracy can be controlled to a specific level.
Now the biggest problem is how to stop people from viewing the illegitimate copies? The solution of it lies in the "WHY".
The answer to it is the COST INVOLVED in viewing the movie in theaters. Going to movies doesn't only involve Cost Of Ticket but also the cost of Food we buy in these cineplexes. And we all know the heavy amount charged by them. Plus the cost of movie tickets has increased in past few years. The average ticket pricing in major cities like DELHI, MUMBAI, BANGALORE etc is above Rs 350. So for family of 4, who will spend Rs 1400 just to watch a movie (Foods and beverages not included). As a result, the budget of many households in India is limited to 1 movie in theater in a year. This is where piracy comes in.
Who don't love freebies? Who will think of missing an opportunity of getting their free stuff for free of cost. Money saved is money earned. You can watch it anytime, any where, any number of times, in your comfort zone, at your own pace with your family and that too free of cost. This is a really good bargain. In thinking about our profit and our comfort zone, we forget about the losses suffered by the people who worked hard to create that content.
Many would say that despite Piracy, movie still earns 100's of crores, so where's the loss? Here it is,
Indian film industry, said to be the largest globally with some 1000 movies produced every year, earns around $2 billion from its legitimate sources such as screening at theaters, home videos and TV rights. But piracy earns 35 percent more than the legitimate resources, it earns $2.7 billion from Indian market which in itself is a mammoth amount.
Now the question arises can industry come together and take a call on it. To stop this piracy are they willing to sacrifice some amount of profit? Can they unitedly decide to bring down the average price, maybe to Rs 250? Or can they take measures to ensure the right and efficient price is charged in these cineplexes. I personally feel this is the major step that can motivate young generation to watch movies in theaters rather than pirated copies.
Also, other steps that can be taken by big celebrities is ensuring that proper security is there in theaters of their release and not to screen movies in theaters which are inefficient in providing the security. Security as in ensuring no cameras or video recording element(other than mobiles) are taken inside by the viewers. Also, with technology at our disposal, with trends they can track the piracy affected cinema halls and not release their movie there. This will help in curbing down the piracy but not totally eliminate it. For ensuring no piracy they need to ensure all areas are covered. To stop piracy from outside India celebs should come together to form a body to ensure major propositions are kept under their control so that movies don't get leaked at least till 2 weeks after their release. These things are just hypothetical, and can't be said right now how many of it can be implemented. But it is for sure if big celebs decide to come together and are ready to sacrifice a share of their profit in order to stop piracy, then the originality of the movies will be retained and business of piracy will suffer huge losses.
Also, since last 2 year government is taking strong actions against piracy to ensure originality of the content creator is retained. In India, the Copyright Act, 1957 protects all kinds of literary, artistic, musical and dramatic work, including the work by producers and cinematographers. The increased in online piracy has pushed the Indian Government to take stringent measures to protect the interest of movie makers and distributors. The amendment to Copyright Act is one of such measures by the government against the rampant menace of online piracy in India. The amendments make film piracy offences punishable with imprisonment of up to three years and fines that may extend to Rs 10 lakhs or both. But the question is, Are these People Really afraid of these punishments? Are they really tracked and punished? If yes then why not a regular update is given regarding the punishments so that fear can be imposed on these people.
If the industry can come together with government, and they together take physical visible actions then piracy can be stopped in India. But the big question remains, IS THE FILM INDUSTRY WILLING TO SACRIFICE A SHARE OF THEIR PROFIT TO CURB DOWN THE PIRACY?
If not then, CAN PIRACY BE STOPPED IN INDIA?
If the industry can come together with government, and they together take physical visible actions then piracy can be stopped in India. But the big question remains, IS THE FILM INDUSTRY WILLING TO SACRIFICE A SHARE OF THEIR PROFIT TO CURB DOWN THE PIRACY?
If not then, CAN PIRACY BE STOPPED IN INDIA?
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