The Rajya Sabha on Thursday cleared the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The Bill which was tabled in Rajya Sabha last week by Union information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur seeks to make amendments to the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
The Bill intends to ensure that the film industry content “does not suffer due to piracy as the menace causes heavy loss to the industry”.
The Bill was passed after a discussion that lasted over two hours in the Upper House of the Parliament on Thursday, but without the Opposition as they staged a walkout after their demands for a discussion on Manipur was not entertained.
The Bill plans to tackle film piracy, overhaul age-based certification provided by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and provide consistency in categorising films and material across platforms.
In the Bill, the government has proposed a maximum three-year jail term and a fine of up to 5% of the production cost of a film for persons making pirated copies of movies. The Bill seeks to introduce additional certificate categories (UA 7+, UA 13+ and UA 16+) and the UA category, reported.The Bill further seeks to introduce new sections in the Cinematograph Act with provisions to prohibit the unauthorised recording of films (section 6AA) and their exhibition (section 6AB). Provision 6AA prohibits the recording of any part of the film for the sole usage of the same device, the report further mentioned.“Piracy is like cancer and this government has decided to eradicate it. The Bill took almost four decades but a lot has been changed. India being a country of storytellers, should emerge as the content hub of the world. I thank all the members for supporting the Bill and giving many suggestions,” Thakur said.
Thakur also slammed the Opposition as they staged a walkout.
“At a time when we are passing the Bill, the way the Opposition is behaving it seems that they are neither with or in favour of the film industry, nor want India to rise as a soft power. The Bill is not limited to any producer or director but includes the benefits of smaller roles like spot boys, cameraman etc. Then there is this issue of piracy which is hugely affecting the film industry. I am trying to raise the rights of the people working in the film industry, the Opposition is eating away their rights.” Anurag said.
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