Tollywood – Hollywood Join Hands for ANTI-PIRACY

Tollywood filmmakers who have made a habit out of lifting plots, characters, action scenes and even publicity designs from Hollywood movies, will be losing their “inspirations” soon. With a Memorandum of Understanding about to be signed shortly between Hollywood trade body Motion Pictures Association of America (MPAA) and Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce, violations can attract hefty fines. The MoU, the first joint operation initiative by Hollywood and Tollywood filmmakers, is aimed at protecting content and curbing piracy in both countries.“The film world is shrinking and we can’t hoodwink anyone. Hollywood filmmakers have been extracting their pound of flesh from Bollywood and other industries for ripping off content or scenes since they are keeping a watch on such malpractices and violators have had to shell out huge sums,” says Suresh Babu, president, Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce.

Besides safeguarding content, the path-breaking MoU will have more to do with IPR issues, specifically the anti-piracy policy adopted by Tollywood.“They were impressed with our anti-piracy methods and pro-active approaches that curbed online, cable and video piracy and even helped book the culprits. Even our state government has established fast track courts to deal with such cases. This MoU will enable Tollywood film-makers to explore the US market and also seek help to nab overseas pirates and save crores of rupees,” adds Rajkumar, overseas distributor and chairman of the Anti-Piracy Cell. To initiate the joint operation, Michael D. Robinson, executive vice-president, Content Protection and chief of operations in MPAA, a consortium of six Hollywood studios would be “holding discussion with top office-bearers and ink the deal in a week”. On the ban on rip offs, producer-director Teja says, “Our film-makers will now be inspired by Korean, French and Iranian films. Until we spare time to develop novel plots, it will be difficult for some film-makers to give up the habit.”

Film-makers of Welcome and Namaste London have reportedly paid Rs 1 crore in fines to the respective Hollywood film-makers.