Today we live a stressful life and movies have become an integral part of our entertainment. I remember few years back I could watch a movie for Rs 30 which was quite under budget. No one really bothered about watching a pirated cassette and none made noise about pirated movies.

But these days people are willing to buy pirated movies than watching the movie in a theater. There are several reasons for that . I was thinking what should be done to reduce video piracy. Here are some of my thoughts.

1) Reduction in Actor Remuneration

How can a hero charge Rs.16 to 20 crores per film? If the cost of production comes down people can afford watching the movie in theaters. I see top bollywood heroes and heroines preaching against piracy. If 50% of the money I paid for watching for a movie goes into paying to lead actors, what right do they have to talk about piracy? . If they charge less production cost would come down and so would be the piracy.

If producers have right to earn Rs.250 crores by making a movie like Ghajini, actors have right to charge more than Rs.15 crores per movie, multiplexes have the right to charge me Rs 150 for each ticket, Rs 60 for a pop corn and 50 for a coke, every spectator will have right to buy a pirated DVD for Rs 30 on a pavement. Folks reduce your profits and reduce the piracy.

2) Improvement in Movies’ Quality

I made the mistake of watching couple of movies by watching the amazing trailers that were played in the break time. Trailers were superb but when I went for the movie it was as stupid as it could be. Why should I spend 1000 rupees for a family on a movie and get stranded with stupid movies, which was not even worth 10 rupees. So come out with good movies instead of coming with silly remakes.

3) Understanding Market Conditions

When market is not ready to pay more, cheap products find place. It is the producer’s job to deliver his product at the right price. Since the prices are exorbitantly high for movies, piracy has seen flourishing. The very fact that a person buys a pirated DVD for Rs.30 to 50, is a clear indication of the acceptable price range for the masses.

When a DVD player costs only Rs 3500, why should a DVD cost Rs. 500+. The cost of a blank CDs and DVDs has reduced considerably but there is not much reduction in the original CDs and DVDs. Producers and Distribution companies should reduce the cost of CD/DVD thereby encouraging people to buy originals.

If an original good quality DVD did not cost more than Rs 50 then there would be no piracy. If the production house distributes its content close to the prices of pirated ones, piracy will have to take a dip. Moserbaer’s initiatives in the right direction is worth emulating. Instead of selling 10 DVDs for 500 each, sell 1000 DVDs for Rs 50 each and you will make the same profit. This network of pirates cannot be wiped out in a few months’ time as it has become their reliable source of income and there is a need to convert them into legitimate distribution centers of entertainment products

4) Availability Of Original DVDs

Production houses should release original DVD to the market as soon as the movies are withdrawn from theaters. The window between theatrical release and the home video release is too wide a gap for people to wait and watch them at home. People don’t have patience to wait for a good movie and they would rush to the pirated dvd vendor or will download a copy from the net. So release your DVD as soon as the movies are taken off the theaters.

I hope the movie makers realize this soon and come up with ground breaking strategies that would help everyone – the movie makers, the audience and the middlemen.

Anyone listening ?

Image Credit: Jacob Botter

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Perhaps I have been writing a bit more on piracy these days, so be it, I think it is important.

Baidu.com, is the top search engine in China. Google is trying it’s best to get hold on the search market in China. Music One box, is an idea from Google, which could just get it in the right direction.

In China, just as rest of world, illegal downloads of music are rampant. People use Baidu to search for the songs and then just simply download. The recording labels have given up hope of earning any revenues. Enter Google. Google created Onebox to: A) To tackle this problem and make music downloads legal. B) Get revenues to music companies C) Go up in Search market in China.

So what Google does is, whenever any one searches for music, it sends them straight top100.cn. This portal already has agreements with Music companies to distribute their music. All the ad generated revenue from Top100.cn is shared between the portal and the music labels. Google is not taking a cut.

Now let us look at this in context of India. Indian music industry is also facing this problem. Innumerable number of blogs host links to illegal music. Can Google or say Microsoft setting up such a deal with the music companies in India? Which this help the cause?

I think the answer to this is no. Not yet in India. Internet is the smallest channel for piracy in India and there are other rampant ways, which are being dealt with by agencies like IMI etc.

While there is little relevance for this to India at this time, this ad supported music could be a concept for the future and could be readily taken to the rest of the world. Only if the music companies have some open mind and look to the future.

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I am back to my preaching mode.

You must have noted in my previous posts, I have advocated against piracy. Well, now let us dig a little deeper.

Reason 1:

Quite a few people argue that reasons to resort to pirated copies of Audio, Video or Software (let us call it AVS now on for convenience sake) is because they are way too expensive.

Now it is like saying I can’t afford a Plasma TV, but I want it so what will I do? I will steal it. That’s exactly what piracy is.

Can’t afford, then you have open source for software, video rental for movies and as far as audio is concerned go for FM or Worldspace.

Reason 2:

“Want them but can’t find them where I live”. This applies mostly to the Non-Residents and is fuel for all these online music and movie download sites. I agree that all of us need entertainment but many times we might not find what we need in the countries we reside. Resolution?

• Thankfully sites like iTunes, Amazon and many other MP3 sellers now sell Indian Music.
• Quite a few websites now ship to locations abroad when you buy Music and Videos from them.
• Ask your friends who travel to get you your favorite DVD or two.
• Are any of your friends running a business? Piggy back on their business courier accounts to get music CDs etc shipped at lower costs.
• And many other ways, rather than resorting to piracy.

One or two don’t hurt any one

Everyone thinks the same, but remembers every time a download happens, somewhere someone’s earning is hit. Music/Film/Software Industry and thereby government would suffer losses in millions due to piracy.

Why bother paying when you get for free or less?

There are a few places where brand new films get sold on DVDs for as less as a £1. People buy such DVDs in bulk and watch them at home. Many others visit these online movie sites either view them online or download them. Rest get movies and music on Torrents.

Why do you think you get these for free or less? Well here’s why. Most of the money made through these illegal sales is unaccounted for or in simple terms “Black”. The websites which host free movies have lots of add as you may have noticed. The ad revenue generated by these is also used anonymously. Torrents send their kind of uninvited guests to your system to track personal information and are basically after your money.

This is the kind of money that is used by anti-social elements in ways that are not good (don’t want to use the T word) for World’s well being.

Choice

Like Morpheus says in Matrix, “I can only show you the way, it is you who has to make a choice.” (However there is only one legitimate choice here ;-p). While there are a lot of organized effort to bring down piracy, it is up to each one of us to contribute to drive this menace off.

Know more

http://www.indianmi.org/

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Kudos to the Indian Navy for their fortnight long success off the Gulf of Aden. India now plans to send some more frigates to patrol this sensitive area. Interestingly, there is now news that India also has “approval” for hot pursuit of pirates into Somali waters.

Do we see India as the new naval superpower?

The Indian Navy is the 5th largest in the world. There are ~55,000 personnel including ~5,000 personnel in Naval Aviation and 2,000+ marine commandos. The INS Viraat is the only aircraft carrier and leads the fleet of over 150 ships and submarines. Their role in times of war and peace has been immense in safeguarding our coastline of about 7517 km (about 5423 km along the mainland and 2094 km the Andaman and Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Islands).

For years it has been known that we have been struggling with the need for another aircraft carrier. Its funny how Russia has been such a strong arms ally and also manages to twist India’s arm for more and more money for rebuilding a once dead carrier.

The Armed Forces Chiefs have been asking for more and more to replenish the forces that have saved the nation from the many wars and the clutches of internal forces. None better than our forces know that it is art and skill that wins wars today and not just the ability to deploy the latest smart bombs. But as with everything there is a need to compensate brain and brawn. Let’s leave that to our think tanks.

With all the war games amongst many nations in the last couple of years, is is sad that none else seems to want to join forces to make the oceans a safer place. This latest move sees India taking the initiative and moving in to save not only our maritime economic resources but also as a measure to enhance the security of perhaps today’s most dangerous seafaring route. It remains to be seen how the world takes this move from India.

What do you think ? Post your comments below …

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