Disney Star takes piracy battle head-on with an FIR

Disney Star has filed a FIR with Bengaluru cyberpolice against a few piracy-related digital platforms. The development is significant since digital piracy in India is on the rise.

The FIR was filed against illegal streaming platforms like TamilMV, TamilBlasters, Tamilrockers, and PikaShow TV for carrying leaked TV, OTT, and films on their platforms, according to Santosh Ram, station house officer, cybercell, Bengaluru Police.

According to media industry analysts, these pirate groups typically acquire their content straight from theatres and OTT platforms, then distribute it via their websites and mobile applications. Torrent websites, third-party cyberlockers, user-generated platforms, and offshore servers are all used to disseminate the content.

Pirated movies were made accessible within 24 hours of theatrical release in the cases of TamilMV, TamilBlasters, and Tamilrockers, resulting in income loss for producers.

PikaShow, on the other hand, uses offshore servers and cyberlockers to gather material from major broadcasters and OTTs. The material may also be downloaded and viewed when not connected to the internet.

The loss of income to OTT companies in India due to piracy is estimated to be $3.08 billion (or over Rs 23,000 crore) this year, according to a new analysis by UK-based Digital TV Research. Since access to pirated information through websites, file-sharing platforms, and mobile applications has gotten simpler in recent years, some analysts estimate that yearly piracy of films, TV, and OTT content in India would be in the range of Rs 50,000 crore.

According to a joint research by Akamai, an American digital services firm, and MUSO, a tech company that provides anti-piracy solutions, India is placed third when it comes to visiting piracy websites in 2021, after the United States, and Russia.