Piracy in the Film Industry is something that SpicyIP has written about extensively. (A search for it on the blog will show at least 25-40 posts on the matter- most recently posted here). And just when we thought the breast-beating was over and done, well known faces from the field have stepped up to voice their opinions on the matter.
However, in a refreshing take on the matter, Shekhar Kapur on his own blog has had a thing or
two to say about IP rights in various fields including his own. In a manner very similar to most of those protesting IP rights on movies or anti-piracy drives for the same, Mr. Kapur wonders the only motivation for the creation of several products is purely profit driven.
He comes up with a solution that some might consider radical- and extremely intriguing. He uses a newly released movie as the focus of the scenario, and suggests that the video maker ask for protection of intellectual property for a week maybe. After that “allow the video to be downloaded free, so that he/she gets a huge following for the next video“. Seems improbable, but maybe extreme solutions may be the right way to go.
This brings back a memory from a conference conducted by the Movie Producers’ Association at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad about a year ago. The conference that turned into a hot debate where several students, while not undermining the rights protection a movie producer may have in a movie, questioned the need for such highly priced CDs and DVDs for movies.
In an opinion (personal, which many may not agree with), there are ways and means by which a IP rights for all right holders may be strengthened. However, increasing prices and an over-aggressive enforcement mechanism may only push consumers toward freeloading. There must be a balance that must be struck if IP rights are to be honoured. It is not an impossible task. It just probably takes a little bit of radical thought. Like Mr. Kapur.
SpicyIP urges readers to take a look at Mr. Kapur’s post for several other interesting perspectives he has on the matter of piracy in general.
