Swaraj takes action against video piracy

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sushma Swaraj has announced the formation of a six-member committee to regulate exhibition of films on cable networks. She also assured that new films would not be screened on television.

The committee comprises three members representing filmmakers and three others acting on behalf of cable operators to decide on exhibition of old films and related matters.

The decision to form the committee was taken after the minister met representatives of film industry and cable operators on September 28.

Yash Chopra, Yash Johar and Amit Khanna will represent filmmakers and Ram Hingorani (Hinduja group), Dr AK Rastogi (President of All India Avishkar Dish Antennae Sangh) and Rupa Sharma (Cable Operators Federation of India) will represent the other members in the committee.

Anjali Duggal has been appointed as the convenor.

Issues that figured at the meeting included sale of cable rights, conditional access to certain films, stern action against video piracy and formation of a web site for filmmakers to provide information of cable operations.

It was also decided that a fear psychosis should be created to drive home the message that perpetrators of video piracy would be sternly dealt with.

PTI