MAM
Fox makes first anti piracy film PSA in US
LOS ANGELES: Hollywood may have broken box office records last year by raking up over nine billion dollars in terms of revenues but the pirates continue to have a field day.
Not only are films aired in theatres being shot by the pirates with digital cameras but it has now come to light that DVDs are being copied. It is also not uncommon to hear of instances where the latest releases are being illegally downloaded on the Net. To spread awareness about the deadly beast, 20th Century Fox has unveiled a one minute 12 second Public Service Announcement.
It is the motion picture industry’s first anti-piracy theatrical PSA and brings people from the different strands of the industry together. Besides stars like Ben Affleck, the film also features concession-stand workers, security guards, and animal wranglers. The mesage being put forth is that piracy threatens the bread and butter of ordinary decent people.
Fox has reached agreements with major motion picture exhibitors to play the PSA in theatres across the US, including the world’s largest, the Regal Entertainment Group.
20th Century Fox chairman Jim Gianopulos said, “Piracy is the single most critical issue facing our industry today. A generation of kids that would never steal a DVD from a store feels no compunction about downloading illegal copies from the internet. Our industry must bear some of the responsibility for educating people that stealing is stealing – regardless of the form.”
The PSA has generated support from all the studios of the Motion Picture Association of America and will become an important element of the MPAA’s comprehensive piracy education campaign. It is the first in a series of anti-piracy messages that will be produced for use in theaters; on TV and cable networks; on DVDs and VHS; at industry screenings and premieres; in the classroom; and at many other venues.
In India the issue will be dealt with at next weeks FICCI FRAMES Convention in Mumbai. VP, Motion Picture Association Intl Michael Ellis will talk on IPR & Legal: Giving the Owner his Due.
MAM
One Hand Clap acquires Agenseed to enter distribution space
Creative agency expands into full-stack services with strategic buyout.
MUMBAI: One Hand Clap has decided to stop just clapping for great ideas now it wants to make sure they actually travel. The leading new-age creative agency and production house has acquired Agenseed, a seeding and distribution firm, marking its formal entry into the distribution segment. The move is aimed at expanding its role across the entire marketing value chain and unlocking new growth opportunities.
One Hand Clap expects the new distribution vertical to contribute up to 15 per cent of its overall revenues over the next 12–18 months, signalling a clear strategic shift beyond pure creative services.
Agenseed, founded by Monish Hardasani and Akram Malik, will function as the agency’s dedicated distribution arm. This acquisition strengthens One Hand Clap’s position as it aims to become a full-stack creative and distribution company in India’s rapidly growing digital advertising market.
With over 90 million posts shared daily on Instagram and brands allocating 25–35 per cent of their digital budgets to distribution and creator-led reach, amplification has become critical to campaign success. By integrating distribution early into the creative process, the agency hopes to help campaigns gain stronger cultural traction and momentum.
One Hand Clap founder Aakash Shah said, “The future of advertising is not just about executing great ideas, but about placing them intelligently. By owning both storytelling and distribution, we can drive greater impact for brands while opening up new revenue streams.”
Agenseed co-founder Monish Hardasani added, “The future belongs to ideas designed to travel. This partnership allows us to integrate distribution thinking at the source.”
Founded in 2019 by former AIB leaders Aakash Shah and Naveed Manakkodan, One Hand Clap has worked with major brands including Swiggy, Google, Netflix India, Crocs, Duolingo, CRED, Bumble, BGMI and Chetak. The agency also secured investment from Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath last year.
In an increasingly fragmented attention economy, this acquisition reflects a broader industry shift where agencies are building end-to-end capabilities to stay competitive. One Hand Clap is clearly clapping louder and ensuring its ideas now reach much further.
