Hollywood to join hands with Bollywood to fight piracy

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The biggest competitor faced by both Hollywood and Bollywood in India is Piracy, said Dan Glickman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) in a meeting organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

He said, "the film industry needs strong laws to support copyright, strong enforcement of those laws, stiff sentences for people who violate those laws and most important, an understanding by ordinary citizens, the people who love movies, that buying pirated movies hurts the industry and makes it difficult for movie makers to make new films".

Appreciating the effort by Indian counterpart, Glickman said that Hyderabad Film Chambers worked with the Andhra Pradesh Government to create India's first dedicated court to oversee film piracy cases. Modulated enforcement, technology, delivery of exciting new services and public education are the essential elements of a graduated approach to fight intellectual property theft, he said.

The evolution of on-demand world and the new and enhanced power of consumer choice are impacting the habits and preferences of the audience, said Glickman. The value of partnership between Hollywood and Bollywood is meaningful, said Glickman. American film producers are forging relationships that they hope will let them tell stories to Indian audiences, Indian filmmakers are hoping to gain global distribution of their own stories, he added.

Amit Khanna, Member, CII Creative Industries Council and Chairman, Reliance Entertainment said that India and the USA share common perception and provide open market to the international films. India has the largest consumption of movies and last year 4.8 billion people watched Indian movies, he said. For the first time the USA is looking at India as an equal partner and consorted effort can enhance opportunities for the film industry of both the countries, said Khanna.