Anti-piracy unit joins hands with cinema halls to curb ‘camcording’

A spokesperson from AACT said, "Our research statistics show a major component of movie piracy comprises recording a movie in the hall with a handheld camera. Movies are often illegally camcorded in the first few days of release. People sell these "master recordings" to illicit source labs where they are illegally duplicated, packaged, and prepared for sale in the black market. Though now multiplex staffers have tightened the screening process to prevent people from carrying cameras or camcorders in the movie halls, many use high tech mobile phones to record the movie. Initially, the training was parted to staff at multiplexes, but we have also started roping in management of single screen theaters. Also, it's a tough fight because there is no legislation in India to punish those who are caught recording movie in a hall."

The programme has so far already trained around 900 employees across the major cities in the country.

However, the spokesperson added that in the absence of a legislation to penalise recording in halls, their training at this stage is restricted to spreading awareness about how piracy hurts the multiplex industry. "We are in talks with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to introduce a legislation against camcording. Once that happens, the training can move on to include preventive measures like supplying movie hall staffers with infra-red goggles which would help them narrow down on any movie-goer trying to record a movie while screening."

Tushar Dhingra, CEO of Big Cinemas, said, "The training has helped sensitise the staff about the evils of piracy. Besides, we also ensure that in the first 45 minutes of a movie, an usher is present in the hall to keep an eye on the audience. However, the percentage of camcording in multiplexes is very less as compared to the single screen theatres as the former is more strict with the screening process of the audience."

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