I&B Ministry
Three months deadline to channels for responding to clarifications: MIB
NEW DELHI: Even as it said it will not respond to applications of permissions for licences if an applicant has delayed in responding to queries by more than three months, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry today gave a final grace period of 15 days to 73 applications.
The Ministry said in a note today that a stock-taking had shown that in 20 per cent to 40 per cent cases, applicants took anything between three months to one year to reply to the information sought by the Ministry. So, the ministry has said that henceforth, it will close requests where clarification has been due for more than three months.
A final call has been given to all to send in their clarifications that are pending within 15 days.
At the same time, it said that it is committed to granting permissions and other regulatory approvals as soon as clearances and clarifications are obtained in a speedy and transparent manner. It said that no permissions can be “held up intentionally.”
However, the company’s response sometimes becomes crucial to expeditious disposal of such requests.
Failure by the companies to reply, delays the whole process leading to an impression that the permissions are held up by the Ministry.
The Ministry also sent separate emails to the concerned companies.
Applicants include major players like Big RTL Broadcast, INX News, UTV Entertainment, Sarthak Entertainment, Focus group, News Express among others. Some of these have filed applications for more than one channel.
I&B Ministry
India tightens anti-piracy law, blocks sites and Telegram channels
New rules bring jail terms, fines and faster takedowns of illegal content
NEW DELHI: The Government of India has stepped up its fight against film piracy, invoking stricter provisions under the Cinematograph Amendment Act 2023 to crack down on unauthorised recording and distribution.
The law now imposes tougher penalties, including jail terms ranging from three months to three years and fines starting at Rs. 3 lakh, which can go up to 5 per cent of a film’s production cost. The provisions target both illegal recording in cinemas and unauthorised online transmission.
In a fresh enforcement push, authorities have notified the Telegram platform to act against piracy, leading to the identification of 3,142 channels allegedly distributing copyrighted content without permission. In parallel, access to around 800 piracy websites has been blocked through internet service providers.
The action has been taken under the Information Technology Act 2000, which empowers the government to direct intermediaries to remove unlawful content. The framework is further reinforced by the Information Technology Rules 2021, requiring platforms to act swiftly when notified of violations.
An institutional mechanism is also in place, allowing copyright holders and authorised representatives to file complaints through designated nodal officers. Once verified, these complaints trigger takedown notices to intermediaries for disabling access to infringing content.
The update was shared in Parliament by Government of India minister of state information and broadcasting l murugan in response to a query from Parimal Nathwani.
The government’s latest move signals a sharper, more coordinated approach to tackling piracy across both physical and digital channels. For the film industry, it is a step towards protecting revenues, while for viewers, it reinforces the shift towards legitimate content consumption.
