I&B Ministry to crack down on film piray with 'model law'

The I&B ministry is set to take strong steps in order to crack down on film and video piracy. "Tamil Nadu has successfully tackled piracy through its legislation. We are considering replicating this in other parts of the country," Union Information & Broad casting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters on the sidelines of the FICCI Media and Entertainment Business Conclave in the city on Thursday. The ministry would hold a meeting of all state information ministers, including some chief ministers, on December 5 in the capital to draft a model law to curb piracy. Digitals methods of filmmaking would also be encourage to adequately tackle this issue.
Ms Soni said the Centre was at the threshold of starting the auctions for FM radio Phase 3. A Cabinet note in this regard has already been circulated in the various Central Ministries. She added that the I&B ministry would spend Rs 100 crore in setting up towers and other hardware to strengthen the terrestrial reach of radio networks across the country, especially along the borders.

She noted that the film entertainment sector was poised to become a Rs 1,052-billion industry by 2013 from the current Rs 584 billion. She also mentioned that the government would set up a national institute for animation studies during the 11th Plan perio d to train people so as to make the sector a big employment generator. Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu CM M Karunanidhi inaugurated the two-day entertainment media conclave and launched the report compiled by Ficci and E&Y. He said the south, especially TN, had a rich cinematic history and had played a role in the growth of the Dravidian movement. "My dream is to make Tamil Nadu the entertainment epicentre of India... and the entertainment centre at the international level.