{"id":7997,"date":"2021-08-27T06:02:06","date_gmt":"2021-08-27T06:02:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/?p=7997"},"modified":"2021-08-27T12:06:59","modified_gmt":"2021-08-27T12:06:59","slug":"cinematograph-amendment-bill-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/cinematograph-amendment-bill-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 &#8211; Rights Vs. Piracy Debate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">Recently,\nthe Ministry of Information &amp; Broadcasting announced the <strong><em>Cinematograph\n(Amendment) Bill 2021<\/em><\/strong>. Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 has been\naimed to deal with the danger of film piracy and comes as an amended iteration\nof the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2019, which received harsh backlash from\nindustry professionals. But, even the changed bill finds itself shrouded in\ncontroversy due to one of its provisions that provides revisionary powers to\nthe Central Government. This efficiently means that even if a film has got\nproper certifications, the Government can re-direct the CBFC Chairman to\nre-examine it. Moreover, there are additional provisions that don&#8217;t look\ncompatible with the present anti-piracy provisions under the <strong><em>Copyright\nAct, 1957<\/em><\/strong>. In this blog, we are going to discuss about Cinematograph\n(Amendment) Bill 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a54bf65ecb13\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a54bf65ecb13\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/cinematograph-amendment-bill-2021\/#Cinematograph_Act_1952_%E2%80%93_An_Overview\" title=\"Cinematograph\nAct, 1952 \u2013 An Overview\">Cinematograph\nAct, 1952 \u2013 An Overview<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/cinematograph-amendment-bill-2021\/#Reason_Behind_the_Introduction_of_Cinematograph_Amendment_Bill_2021\" title=\"Reason Behind the Introduction of Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 \">Reason Behind the Introduction of Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 <\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/cinematograph-amendment-bill-2021\/#Effects_of_the_proposed_Cinematograph_Amendment_Bill_2021\" title=\"Effects of the\nproposed Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021\">Effects of the\nproposed Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/cinematograph-amendment-bill-2021\/#Problems_with_the_Amendment_Act_%E2%80%93_Criminalisation_and_Punishments\" title=\"Problems with\nthe Amendment Act \u2013 Criminalisation and Punishments\">Problems with\nthe Amendment Act \u2013 Criminalisation and Punishments<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/cinematograph-amendment-bill-2021\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cinematograph_Act_1952_%E2%80%93_An_Overview\"><\/span>Cinematograph\nAct, 1952 \u2013 An Overview<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This\nAct put into place an exact method of certifying movies displayed in cinema\nhalls and other public viewings. It\u2019s also accountable for the existence of the\nCBFC (Central Board of Film Certification). The Union Government has definite\nguidelines that find out the certifications and edits\/cuts given by the CBFC.\nThere are four different categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Restricted to Adults (A);<\/li><li>Unrestricted Viewing (U);<\/li><li>Restricted to a profession or a\nclass (S);<\/li><li>Unrestricted but with parents\nguidance for children below 12 years of age.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reason_Behind_the_Introduction_of_Cinematograph_Amendment_Bill_2021\"><\/span>Reason Behind the Introduction of Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nissuance of certificates and Indian film releases is not an original\ndevelopment and has continued for many years. The <strong><em>CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification)<\/em><\/strong>\nin its past has come down severely on many popular releases such as Udta Punjab\n(2016), Haider (2014), etc. These films tried to address ideas of feminism,\nsexuality, etc., which the CBFC considered too bold for public releases, and as\nan outcome, all the releases were made post-heavy cuts in such movies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However,\na question may be arising that if the threat is decade long, why so late to\nbring a reform now? The answer is that in the current debate surrounding the release\nof a movie called Tandav, which is valuable on Amazon Prime, met with harsh\npublic outrage. This web series was targeted and blamed for misrepresenting\nHindu gods and target the Hindu religion, which further led to an excess of\nFIRs being filed. The existing amended bill could be seen as a direct outcome\nof this debate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Effects_of_the_proposed_Cinematograph_Amendment_Bill_2021\"><\/span>Effects of the\nproposed Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The previous Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the year 2019, under <strong><em>Section 7(4), <\/em><\/strong>had provisions for overriding the Copyright Act. The section fined recording a movie or sound recording being played or showed. With any consent of the<strong><a class=\"text-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/copyright-registration\"> Copyright<\/a><\/strong> owner in the <strong><em>exhibition facility<\/em><\/strong>. The same provision seems to have been replaced by Section 6AA, which, even though it has different wordings, the effect more or less remain the same. It states 6AA. Despite any law for the time being in force, no individual shall, without the written permission of the author, be allowed to use any video or audio recording device in a place to deliberately make or attempt or transmit or transmit or assist the making\/transmission of a film copy or a part thereof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Explanation\n\u2013 For the objective of the above section, the phrase &#8220;Author&#8221; shall\nhave the same meaning as allocated to it in <strong><em>Clause (d) of Section 2 of the\nCopyright Act<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While\nthe provision tries to remove the word \u201c<strong><em>Exhibition Facility<\/em><\/strong>&#8220;, which was\nearlier left indefinite in the last bill and could have been colourably\ndescribed, still it has its own fair shares of problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Further,\nthe Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 makes the necessity of written\npermission from the film author compulsory, posing another set of vital\nchallenges. This should be clear that even though the provision under the\nCopyright Act presents the film producer with the author&#8217;s title, it in no way\nindicates that the same shall remain true continually. There can undoubtedly be\nthe assignment of rights that would assign the rights to 3<sup>rd<\/sup> party.\nIn such a matter, any individual who wants to record a film lawfully would have\nto bear the needless burden of getting written permission from the\nstakeholders, failing which could land him in severe problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Problems_with_the_Amendment_Act_%E2%80%93_Criminalisation_and_Punishments\"><\/span>Problems with\nthe Amendment Act \u2013 Criminalisation and Punishments<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nproposed <strong><em>Section 7(1A)<\/em><\/strong> refers to the penalties for infringement or\nviolation of the overbroad <strong><em>Section 6AA<\/em><\/strong>. The penalties range\nfrom three months to three years of imprisonment and\/or a fine worth Rs. 3\nlakhs which can be extended up to 5% of the examined gross production cost of\nthe movie or film. Associating the fine to the gross production cost of the\nmovie or film may lead to excessive penalties in the case of high-budget\nmovies. It also fails to differentiate between repeat lawbreakers and\nfirst-time offenders or lawbreakers, something that Copyright Act does by\nprescribing various penalties. The higher limit of the fine is based on the\ncost of production means that a 1<sup>st<\/sup>-time offender may end up getting\nmuch strict punishment than an experienced abuser. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Particularly, piracy is already a punishable offence under the Copyright Act. <strong><em>Section 63 of the Act<\/em><\/strong> goes far away from what the <strong><em>TRIPS Agreement<\/em><\/strong><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/TRIPS_Agreement\" class=\"text-primary\"><strong>[1]<\/strong><\/a><\/sup> demands in criminal solutions for Copyright Infringement. It furnishes imprisonment ranging from six months to three years and\/or fine between Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 2 lakhs for intentionally violating Copyright. So far, Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 adds a non-obstante clause before <strong><em>Section 6AA<\/em><\/strong>, according to it an overall effect &amp; creating a personal offence of illegal recording in addition to the Copyright Infringement offence which is identified under the Copyright Act as well as specific state <strong><em>Goonda Act.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Several\nof the changes proposed by the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 are likely\nto significantly impact the freedom of expression of both public members and\nfilmmakers. The re-establishment of revisionary powers of the Central\nGovernment goes against a clear Supreme Court ruling in KM Shankarappa vs.\nUnion of India, which found such powers to be encroaching into the domain of legal\nreview and thus offensive of the basic framework of the constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Increasing penalties against piracy, an offence that is already criminalised by State and Central statutes, doesn\u2019t provide efficient solutions to the problem at the grassroots level. Instead, it risks misuse against individuals &amp; the chance of a person being convicted under various laws with heavy penalties for a single action. The robust anti-piracy policy of the Government should be realised by making more organised solutions to the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-left\"><b>Read our article<\/b>:<mark style=\"background: #fffd03 !important;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/technology-transfer-of-ipr\/\">Facilitating Technology Transfer: A New Feature of IPR<\/a><\/mark><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recently, the Ministry of Information &amp; Broadcasting announced the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021. Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021 has been aimed to deal with the danger of film piracy and comes as an amended iteration of the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2019, which received harsh backlash from industry professionals. But, even the changed bill finds itself shrouded [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":7998,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[19],"tags":[828],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7997"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8009,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7997\/revisions\/8009"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}