Delhi Police promise action against copyright violators

The Delhi Government has told the Delhi High Court that it was all set to crackdown on cable operators, mostly in South and West Delhi, who are broadcasting films by violating the copyright law, reports Harish V Nair.

Cable operators in Delhi broadcasting movies illegally beware.

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You could end up in jail for three years and be asked to pay a fine of up to Rs 2 lakh if you don't mend your ways soon.

The Delhi Government has told the Delhi High Court that it was all set to crackdown on cable operators, mostly in South and West Delhi, who are broadcasting films by violating the copyright law.

“An FIR under section 63 of the Copyrights Act was lodged by the Economic Offences wing against two operators in June 2008 after a preliminary inquiry. Further complaints of violations against these two and any other cable operator would be looked into immediately and action as per law would be taken,” Delhi Government lawyer Ranjit Kapoor submitted before Justice Sunil Gaur.

The assurance came on a case filed by Mumbai-based commercial cable distributors Novex communications. Its lawyer Ankit Jain told the court that a number of cable operators across Delhi were showing movies and film-based programmes of popular Shemaroo Entertainment Private Ltd., exclusive copyrights of which were with Novex, without the mandatory licence.

Jain told the court that despite repeated requests and an FIR in June last year against two cable operators, and more evidence in November, no action had been taken.

“In December, Novex officials reached EOW cell to take their officials for a surprise raid so that some operators could be caught red-handed. But the errant cable operator escaped because of the lax attitude of the raiding party,” said Jain.