Video Piracy Cell being streamlined

Chennai:Faced with what appears to be a never-ending menace, the functioning of the Video Piracy Cell (VPC) of the State Police is being streamlined to meet the challenge.The authorities have sought the assistance of the local police to make anti-piracy operations more effective.Police sources say piracy is rampant and continues despite detection of several cases and arrests and detention of the accused under the Goondas Act.

The magnitude of the problem is evident from the seizure of 28,898 pirated VCDs/DVDs/MP3, valued at Rs.1.26 crore in a three-day operation, which ended on May 28.On Wednesday, 5,290 pirated discs were seized by the special unit in Chennai. Two persons were arrested and equipment seized.A total of 7,40,222 VCDs/DVDs/MP3 were seized by the VPC last year with the detection of 1,153 cases and the arrest of 1,193 persons.The total value of the property seized was about Rs.19 crore. About 76,000 VCDs and DVDs were seized up to May 30 this year and 562 persons arrested.

Nearly Rs. 7.35-crore worth property was seized, says Inspector-General of Police,Special Investigation Team, CB CID, S. Ramanathan, who has the VPC under his jurisdiction.Advancement of technology has enabled production of pirated copies quicker and cheaper. All that is required is one illegal version.The long time lag for releasing CDs of films legally may be a contributory factor. The police cannot act against those indulging in the illegal activity from abroad.However, a general watch is being kept on the Internet to ensure that pirated films are not loaded from within the country.

As part of the efforts to check the menace, the special unit has identified Madurai, Cuddalore, Tiruchirappalli, Salem and Coimbatore, and Pudupet, Vyasarpadi, Avadi and Ambattur in Chennai where pirated copies are in circulation in large numbers.The VPC's 12 teams in the State, each of which is headed by an Inspector, have been asked to send weekly performance reports.Though the local police also take action against violators, they have been requested to assist the special unit whenever searches are conducted.Though the impact of detention of video-pirates under the Goondas Act may be minimal now — 10 last year and four so far this year — such action will pay dividends in the long run, the officer says.