MUMBAI: Sad but true… hardly three days after hitting the screens new movie releases like Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na and Love Story 2050 have succumbed to internet piracy.

The movies are available for free downloads on multiple websites… quality intact!

Keeping in mind the hard work, effort and money that is being pumped in by producers to make and market their products, it is indeed sad that a movie looses out on a huge chunk of revenues to piracy.

While this problem is not new, the truth is that a solution to the menace has not yet been found. While internationally, all Hollywood studios have aligned with the Motion Pictures Association of America (MPAA) to curb the problem, India still lags behind in terms of a collective effort.

Moreover, the Optical Disc Law that was supposed to be implemented by the Indian Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry has been put on the backburner for the time being. With no law to check piracy, the industry doesn’t have any respite from it for the time being at least.

New movie releases regardless of its box office fate, find their way on pirate websites. Some of the recent releases like Yash Raj Films’ Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, Sahara One Motion Pictures’ De Taali, Reliance Big Pictures’ Summer 2007, UTV Spotboy’s Aamir, Shemaroo Entertainment’s Mere Baap Pehle Aap, White Feather Films’ Woodstock Villa, BR Films’ Bhootnath and Vishesh Films’ Jannat are a few examples on movies being streamed illegally on the internet.

Physical piracy via VCDs and DVDs is something that we’re not even accounting for here.

It’s high time producers and the industry as a whole join hands and collectively take measures to fight the menace.