Gujarat Police have apprehended three people from Punjab for illegally streaming JioHotstar’s premium content via an IPTV service known as BOS IPTV.
A press release from JioHotstar states that the suspects were providing access to copyrighted material for as low as Rs 400 for a three-month subscription.
The streaming service estimates the value of the pirated content at Rs 700 crore. During a raid in Jalandhar, Punjab, cybercrime police seized three laptops and two mobile phones.
The press release indicated that investigative agencies suspect a larger international piracy network. The arrested individuals allegedly acquired set-top boxes from legitimate DTH providers and modified them to circumvent content protections.
These altered devices were then used to illegally access and rebroadcast JioHotstar’s premium content through BOS IPTV. According to the FIR filed on May 14, the suspects face charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, and the Information Technology Act, 2000, which address issues such as copyright infringement, broadcast reproduction rights, theft, cheating, and tampering with computer source documents.
Forensic watermarking has been suggested as a potential solution to combat piracy. IPTV delivers television programs over the internet, contrasting with traditional cable TV that relies on satellite signals. In similar situations, if pirates utilize either a physical or virtual set-top box, it becomes challenging to trace the original source of the pirated content, as reported by Media.
It is done for each and every user so that you (streaming company) can, by looking at the video or running that video through the system, can identify who the end user is.”
– Pankaj Gupta, Director of Synamedia.
The Importance: Piracy is not merely a technological or legal concern; it poses a significant economic risk. An EY report reveals that 51% of Indian consumers obtain content from illegal sources.
The joint report by EY and the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) estimates that India’s piracy economy reached Rs 22,400 crore in 2023. This illegal activity results in an estimated industry loss of up to Rs 4,300 crore in Goods and Services Tax (GST). Mukul Shrivastava from the consulting firm highlights that India has one of the highest piracy rates globally.
The easy access to illicit websites and close-knit pirate groups on platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp fuels this issue. For example, in April, Star India found a WhatsApp group called ‘BOSTV’ with 617 members providing access to 8,500 live TV channels, 29,000 movies, and about 3,000 web series. These groups quickly adapt to domain bans by switching to proxy IP addresses. Thus, it is essential to implement advanced forensic watermarking techniques not only for internet-based IPTV and OTT services but also for D2H and cable TV systems.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter |The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Whatsapp Channel | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Instagram
About us:
The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News is a premier platform dedicated to delivering latest news, updates, and insights from the tech industry. With its strong foundation of intellectual property and thought leadership, the platform is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and lead conversations about how technology shapes our world. From its early days as CIO News to its rebranding as The Mainstream on November 28, 2024, it has been expanding its global reach, targeting key markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, the USA, and the UK. The Mainstream is a vision to put technology at the center of every conversation, inspiring professionals and organizations to embrace the future of tech.
