The next time you download a movie from torrents or any other website, just pause a second.
What you consider an innocuous guilty pleasure might actually benefit a terror group or drug traffickers! These are not the words of our Tollywood celebs, but of Nancy Powell, US Ambassador to India.
“Reports link piracy to organised criminal networks such as drug traffickers and terrorist groups. These nefarious links should make even a first-time DVD downloader consider the hidden consequences of film piracy.
Film piracy undermines the stability of the global economy and rule of law, even as it puts millions of dollars each year into the hands of those who mean us harm,’’ Powell warned.
She was speaking at the launch of Indian Movie Cop (IMC), a mobile application, at the DGP’s Office in the city on Sunday.
The app was developed by the Anti-Video Piracy Cell of the AP Film Chamber of Commerce with the support of the US Consulate General, Hyderabad.
Available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play, it provides both movie info and tools for film fans and police officers to combat film piracy in the country.
The app is designed in such a way that you can pass on information to the law enforcement agencies if you come across any piracy.
“When a trademark, copyright or a patent is violated in any country, we all lose.
Entrepreneurs are less inclined to take risks, the incentive to create quality products is diminished and opportunities to create wellpaying jobs fade,” Powell said.
Quoting from the report, she said it was estimated that the Indian film industry lost 571,896 jobs and $ 959 million to piracy.
DGP V Dinesh Reddy said, “It (piracy) is black money and bad money and it may go into the hands of antisocial elements.’
Padma Bhushan D Rama Naidu stressed the need for adopting the latest technology to fight the menace.
Producers M Shyam Prasad Reddy, Dil Raju, Ashok and director S S Rajamouli and actor Jr NTR were among those present.