Piracy has been an age-old menace in the film industry, but its evolution alongside technology has made it an even more pressing concern. Usually, when technology advances, it becomes easy to put an end to underlying issues, but in contrast, the technology advancements are helping piracy to grow more. After a long time, with a biggie, Game Changer, ending up being a victim of piracy, the debates began to grow in Tollywood.
From local cable channels illegally broadcasting Game Changer in Vizag to pirated copies being distributed widely, the scale of the issue has reached new and concerning heights. The fact that the makers of Game Changer filed a police complaint against 45 individuals suggests a premeditated conspiracy targeting the film even before its release.
What’s worse is the audacity of those involved, with pirated copies reportedly found in places as inconspicuous as private buses and accessible to people from all walks of life, including hotel chefs and hospital security guards. Producer Madhura Sreedhar recently said that he found a security guard at a private hospital watching Game Changer on his mobile.
Yesterday I went to one hospital to visit my father in law. Security person at hospital was watching #GameChanger movie on his mobile. Felt very bad!
Piracy has also affected other recent releases like Daaku Maharaj and Sankranthi Ki Vastunnam as well. However, the threat remains significant, especially with the rise of high-definition piracy. This issue underscores the urgency for the industry to adopt more robust measures to combat piracy collectively.
One of the biggest challenges is the global scale of movie releases, with films like Game Changer being screened on thousands of screens worldwide. Tracking the origin of pirated content is expensive and time-consuming, often concluding long after the theatrical run has ended. This delay not only impacts box office collections but also undermines the hard work of countless individuals involved in filmmaking.
International OTT platforms also grapple with piracy, which further complicates the fight. Advanced encryption and watermarked copies can only go so far when stringent enforcement is lacking. The industry must explore innovative solutions, such as blockchain technology for secure distribution, AI-based piracy detection systems, and tighter collaborations with governments and law enforcement agencies to dismantle piracy networks. Somehow, ETV Win is partially successful in combating piracy but there needs to be a system in place to find a permanent solution.
Ultimately, combating piracy requires collective action involving filmmakers, production houses, OTT platforms, and audiences.
Tags Tollywood
