**Executive Summary**
The Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, establishes a rigorous legal framework to combat film piracy through enhanced penalties and a formal complaint mechanism. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has appointed Nodal Officers to facilitate the removal of infringing content, resulting in the recent notification of 3,142 Telegram channels and the blocking of 800 websites as of March 2026. This initiative enforces strict compliance for digital intermediaries under the IT Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Legal Prohibitions and Penalties**
* Sections 6AA and 6AB of the Cinematograph Act prohibit the unauthorized recording and transmission of films.
* Violations carry a minimum punishment of three months imprisonment and a fine of ₹3 lakh.
* Maximum penalties can extend to three years imprisonment and a fine of up to 5% of the audited gross production cost.
**Institutional Mechanism for Complaints**
* The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has designated Nodal Officers to receive piracy complaints.
* Complaints must follow the prescribed format issued via Public Notice dated 03.11.2023.
* Eligible complainants include original copyright holders, authorized persons, or individuals reporting pirated copies on the internet.
* The government issues notifications to intermediaries to disable access to identified infringing links upon receiving valid complaints.
**Intermediary Obligations**
* Under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, intermediaries are required to remove or disable access to unlawful content upon receiving government notices or court orders.
* The IT Rules, 2021, mandate that intermediaries, including social media platforms, perform specific obligations regarding the information they host or store.
* Rule 3(1)(b) requires intermediaries to make "reasonable efforts" to ensure their resources are not used to host or share information that infringes on copyrights or proprietary rights.
**Recent Enforcement Actions**
* On 11.03.2026, the Telegram App was notified to remove 3,142 channels publishing unauthorized content from OTT platforms and producers.
* Approximately 800 websites hosting pirated content have been disabled through Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
**Impact Analysis**
**Film Producers and Copyright Holders**
**Impact**
They receive strengthened legal protection and a streamlined government mechanism to protect their intellectual property from unauthorized digital distribution.
**Action Required**
Submit complaints regarding infringing content to designated Nodal Officers using the specific format mandated in the 03.11.2023 Public Notice.
**Digital Intermediaries and Social Media Platforms**
**Impact**
These entities are held strictly accountable for the content hosted on their platforms and must act swiftly on government directives to avoid legal liability.
**Action Required**
Implement "reasonable efforts" to prevent copyright infringement and immediately disable access to links or channels when notified by the government or served with a court order.
**Internet Service Providers (ISPs)**
**Impact**
ISPs serve as the technical enforcement arm for blocking access to pirated domains.
**Action Required**
Comply with government orders to disable access to websites identified as hosting pirated cinematograph content.
**Offenders and Unauthorized Distributors**
**Impact**
Individuals or groups engaging in piracy face severe criminal and financial consequences, including multi-year jail terms and fines linked to the total production cost of the film.
**Action Required**
Cease all unauthorized recording, transmission, and exhibition of copyrighted cinematograph films.
Key Entities Referenced
Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023: Primary legislation that strengthens the anti-piracy framework by prohibiting unauthorized film recording and transmission, establishing strict penal provisions including imprisonment and production-cost-based fines.
Information Technology Act, 2000: The legal framework used in conjunction with the Cinematograph Act to notify and compel intermediaries to remove or disable access to pirated content.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting: The central authority responsible for establishing the institutional mechanism and appointing Nodal Officers to receive and act upon piracy complaints.
Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021: Regulations that impose specific obligations on digital platforms to prevent the hosting, sharing, or transmission of information that infringes on proprietary rights.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023
Strengthens Anti-Piracy Framework; Offenders
Face Up to 3 Years Imprisonment and Fine up to
5% of Production Cost
Centre Cracks Down on Piracy with 3,142 Telegram Channels
Notified and 800 Websites Blocked
Posted On: 18 MAR 2026 3:19PM by PIB Delhi
Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023 has strengthened the legal framework to deter film piracy.
Section 6AA and 6AB of Cinematograph Act prohibit unauthorized recording and transmission of films.
Section 7 (1A) provides that if any person contravenes the provisions of Section 6AA or Section 6AB,
they shall be punishable with a minimum 3 months imprisonment and fine of Rs. 3 lakh, which can be
extended up to 3 years imprisonment and fine up to 5% of the audited gross production cost. Further,
Section 7(1B)(ii) enables the Government to notify the intermediaries hosting pirated content under
section 79(3) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Ministry of I&B has established an institutional mechanism through designated Nodal Officers to receive
complaints, in the prescribed format issued vide Public Notice dated 03.11.2023. Such complaints may be
submitted by original copyright holders of cinematograph films, persons authorized by them, or any other
individual regarding the exhibition of pirated or infringing copies of films on the internet. Upon receipt,
notifications are issued to intermediaries for disabling access to the identified links.
Section 79(3)(b) of IT Act, 2000 provides for notification by appropriate Governments of unlawful act or
content to the intermediaries for removing/disabling access to such content. Intermediaries are required to
remove any content violative of any law for the time being in force as and when brought to their
knowledge either through a court order or through a notice by appropriate government or its authorized
agency.
The Government of India has notified Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital
Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules 2021) under IT Act, 2000. Part-II of the IT Rules, 2021
relating to intermediaries, including social media intermediaries, inter-alia casts specific obligations on
intermediaries relating to information hosted, displayed, uploaded, published, transmitted, stored or
shared on their platforms.
Rule 3(1)(b) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code)
Rules provides that the intermediaries should make reasonable efforts by itself. They should not allow its
computer resource to be used to host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update or share
any information that infringes any patent, trademark, copyright or other proprietary rights.
Anti-piracy actionIn accordance with the above-mentioned provisions of law, the intermediary Telegram App was notified
under Section 79(3)(b) of IT Act, 2000 on 11.03.2026 to remove and disable access to the 3,142
Channels publishing content owned by or licensed to certain content owners, OTT platforms and
producers without authorization in violation of the Copyright Act, 1957. Further, access to approximately
800 websites hosting pirated content has been disabled through Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
The information was submitted today in the Lok Sabha in a written reply to Shri Pradyut Bordoloi by
Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs.
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Mahesh Kumar/Aparajita Priyadarshini
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