Overview

This chapter provides an overview of the various studies related to piracy in the Indian film industry. This discussion is intended to provide not a mere description of piracy estimates but more of a critical reading of those estimates. It may be specifically noted at the outset that merely because a study or data is viewed from a critical perspective, this discussion does not (and should not) convey a message that a particular study is not valuable or that piracy is not making any substantial impact in the Indian film industry. Rather, all the studies analysed in this chapter have made contributions in their own way. What may be necessary to get a broader picture of piracy in India is a complementary reading of those estimates with the critical issues highlighted.

Some Common Methodological Issues

The illegitimate character of piracy and the resulting lack of data on the actual transactions make the accurate quantification of the volume of piracy and its economic effects very difficult, if not impossible. Different stakeholders in the information goods industry have traditionally used this vagueness for their own advantages by using estimation approaches that provide results that could best support their arguments, and Indian film industry is no exception in this regard. As in most other countries, most of the piracy estimates relating to the Indian film industry are also provided by the film industry or consultants commissioned by them or lobbying groups. While some methodological issues are common for most piracy-related studies, some are specific to individual studies. This section highlights some of the common methodological issues.