After Udta Punjab and Great Grand Masti became available on various websites even before their theatrical release, the makers of forthcoming Hindi film Dishoom are gearing up to combat the threat by seeking a John Doe order against piracy of the movie.
Dishoom, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Eros International Media Ltd, is scheduled for release on Friday 29 July. The producers are in the process of obtaining the John Doe order from the Bombay high court.
The order will direct internet service providers (ISPs), telecom operators and other platforms to ensure that any illegal content from Dishoom is not made available on their services, read a statement issued on behalf of Kulmeet Makkar, CEO, Film and Television Producers Guild of India.
Prominent Hindi film producers and studio executives met last week to address the issue of piracy and unanimously supported the need to take adequate measures to ensure that film content is safeguarded at every stage of its release process, including certification and supply to worldwide distributors and digital operators.
Mukesh Bhatt, president of the guild, said: "This issue should not be treated in isolation as piracy for films but the sheer impunity and brazenness with which this illegality is being propounded indicates a structured attempt to damage the industry on the whole and should be considered a serious threat to the security of the nation's intellectual assets."
Bhatt said the prime minister needs to intervene to help filmmakers get the "highest level of probe from the intelligence services of the country".