The threat of piracy often looms large over major theatrical releases, prompting producers to seek swift legal intervention to protect their intellectual property. The makers of the recently released movie 'Ramayana' faced a similar challenge as unauthorized clips and copies began surfacing across various online platforms. Determined to curb such distribution and safeguard the cinematic release, the producers approached the court to secure robust legal backing against copyright infringement.
Bombay High Court Issues Strict Three-Hour Removal Mandate
Presiding over the matter, Justice Ashish S. Chavan issued a decisive ruling while hearing the plea brought forward by 'Godpower Media'. The court directed internet service providers and digital platforms to remove all pirated links and unauthorized content within three hours of receiving a formal complaint from the copyright holders. Furthermore, the court instructed these platforms to share the contact details of their designated nodal officers, ensuring that the makers can instantly reach out to the right personnel whenever an illegal copy of the film is detected online.
The Critical Need for Rapid Action
During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Ashish Kamat, representing 'Godpower Media', explained to the court that even a delay of a few hours can give internet users ample opportunity to distribute copies widely. Once such unauthorized files begin circulating across networks, containing and halting their spread becomes an extraordinarily difficult task. Acknowledging this urgency, the court ordered platforms to comply in writing and mandated that they maintain dedicated personnel and systems capable of addressing piracy complaints without any lag.
Preceding Legal Measures Against Theatre Recording
This is not the first instance where the makers have turned to the judiciary to combat piracy issues surrounding the project. On November 2, the Bombay High Court had already issued an order restraining unknown individuals and groups from recording the film inside cinema halls or uploading, streaming, and sharing it without explicit permission. These progressive judicial steps are designed to firmly secure the commercial viability of the theatrical run.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, 'Ramayana' has been split into two parts and boasts a massive total budget of 4,000 crore rupees. The grand star cast features Ranbir Kapoor portraying Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash stepping into the role of Raavan. The first part of the film hit theatres worldwide on November 5, marking a phenomenal start at the box office by grossing 155 crore rupees globally on its opening day.
