iWorld
Viacom18 takes criminal action against digital piracy
Mumbai: Viacom18 Media is working with Maharashtra Cyber Crime Cell, Mumbai to fight against digital piracy and infringing usage of content.
The Cyber Crime Cell arrested Subhanjan Kayet for his involvement in the pirated websites/platform named Thop TV. He was accused for the development of software, technical manipulation, illegal streaming and telecasting of the contents from Viacom18’s channels and its OTT platform Voot.
On 23 May, Kayet was sentenced by Esplanade Court to five days of police custody after considering the severity of the offence and upon the request of the counsel appearing for the state.
The Maharashtra Cyber Crime Cell has frozen his bank account in which he purportedly received the illegal proceeds of his unlawful activities. He was prolonging his arrest for the last few months after his bail applications were rejected by the courts in Kolkata and Mumbai.
“Special anti-piracy unit MIPCU (Maharashtra Intellectual property Crime Unit) arrested accused Subhanjan Samiran Kayet from Gobardanaga Harbra, 24 Paragana, West Bengal on 22nd May 2022 as he appears to be the lead developer of the THOP TV app,” said Superintendent of Police Maharashtra Cyber Mumbai Sanjay Shintre. “We have sufficient evidence regarding this.”
“We are thankful to Maharashtra Cyber for continuing this action against piracy,” said a spokesperson from Viacom18. “It is important to make the message clear that operating or abetting a business of infringement is a serious offence which affects the creative community at large. The perpetrators will be found and brought before law.”
In the recent past, the efforts of Viacom18 together with Maharashtra Cyber Crime Cell had led to the arrest of the founder and CEO of Thop TV.
“Viacom18 has always been at the forefront in addressing and curbing piracy of their content and channels,” said the statement. “Viacom18 and the TV18 network will continue to fight market threats associated with piracy and will protect their channel’s content using all legal methods available.”
iWorld
Snap names Doug Hott CFO as Derek Andersen exits amid restructuring
Leadership shift and layoffs signal sharper focus on costs and growth path
NEW YORK: Snap Inc. is reshuffling its top leadership, appointing Doug Hott as chief financial officer as longtime finance chief Derek Andersen prepares to step down next month.
In an internal note, Snap chief executive officer Evan Spiegel said Andersen will leave after nearly eight years with the company, with his final earnings call set for May 6 and last working day on May 8. Andersen is departing for a new opportunity, closing a chapter that saw him guide the company through the pandemic, major shifts in digital advertising, and broader economic turbulence.
Reflecting on his tenure, Snap chief executive officer Evan Spiegel said Derek Andersen had been “a great partner” who helped steer the business through some of its most challenging periods while keeping a steady focus on long-term growth and profitability.
Taking over is Doug Hott, currently vice president of finance, strategy and corporate development, who has worked closely with leadership on capital allocation and restructuring. Snap chief executive officer Evan Spiegel described Doug Hott as a long-time partner with a strong commitment to cost discipline and doing more with less, signalling continuity at a time when efficiency is front and centre.
The leadership transition comes alongside a broader organisational reset. The workplace experience team will now report to Scott Withycombe, while the content team will move under the product organisation led by Ceci Mourkogiannis. Partnerships executives Anne and Craig will report to Zach Kahn as Snap aims to streamline operations.
The changes follow a recent round of layoffs that saw the company cut around 1,000 roles, or roughly 16 per cent of its workforce, reflecting a wider industry push towards leaner structures and tighter cost controls.
Investors are now turning their attention to Snap’s upcoming quarterly results in early May, which are expected to offer clearer signals on the company’s financial trajectory and the impact of its restructuring efforts.
With a new finance chief in place and a sharper organisational focus, Snap appears to be tightening its belt while keeping an eye on long-term growth in an increasingly competitive digital advertising market.
