The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has welcomed the announcement by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s (MIB) decision to form a task force to tackle online piracy. IAMAI’s Digital Entertainment Committee (DEC) said this is a necessary step to protect India’s creative economy.
The Cinematograph Amendment Act 2023 introduced stricter penalties for digital piracy and empowered authorities to act against illegal recordings and transmissions. A 2024 report by EY and IAMAI, The Rob Report, highlighted the scale of the problem, estimating annual losses of ₹224 billion annually for India’s entertainment industry and noting that 51% of media consumers access pirated content. The report called for stronger enforcement, fair pricing, and better distribution models. The formation of a dedicated task force is seen as a step toward aligning legal action with industry recommendations.
With the task force underway, stronger laws in place, and industry support behind it, India’s media and entertainment sector has a chance to better protect creative content, build trust, and grow its global presence.
Mr. Kiran Mani, CEO of JioStar and the Chair of IAMAI’s Digital Entertainment Committee,said, “IAMAI’s participation in this task force would ensure that industry expertise is directly channelled into decisive measures that safeguard our creative economy and fuel long term growth. By bringing together the collective experience of the entertainment ecosystem, we can help shape solutions that protect India’s creative economy and drive its long-term growth. This will help in creating an ecosystem where original content thrives and creators have the confidence to bring more stories to audiences everywhere.”
Emphasising the importance of united efforts, Mr. Deepit Purkayastha, Co-founder and CEO of Inshorts and Co-Chair of the Digital Entertainment Committee, said, “Piracy is still one of the biggest hurdles for our industry. This task force is a chance for us to work hand in hand with the government and the wider ecosystem to find solutions that really work. Together, we can set the stage for a stronger and more trusted entertainment industry.”
