This Article is From Oct 01, 2014

Bang Bang Streaming Banned on 72 Websites

Bang Bang Streaming Banned on 72 Websites

Hrithik Roshan in a still from Bang Bang.

New Delhi:

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed various internet and telecom service providers to block access to 72 websites hosting the soon-to-release film Bang Bang which features actors Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif.

Justice Manmohan Singh said the court is totally against the piracy of copyrighted material, including movies, and "it is almost equivalent to duplicating currencies". (Weekend With Hrithik Roshan: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Reasons to Watch Bang Bang)

"The websites' owners are committing piracy and collecting illegal profits, who are peeping behind the curtain and laughing at the producers of the movies. If this is not fraud what else? In fact, piracy in copyright cases it is a curse to well-established system of the country and it should be curbed and dealt with iron hands," the court said.

Producers of Bang Bang had moved the high court seeking to block nearly 72 websites that may allow online access to the film. The film directed by Siddharth Anand is scheduled to be released on Thursday (October 2). (Also Read: Bang Bang Very Difficult Film for Katrina Kaif)

Fox Star Studios has sought a blanket injunction against these websites and also hauled service providers in its suit.

The plea said that every day multiple websites provide access to illegal content by communicating films to public without authorisation of the rightful owner, adding that this interferes with "theatrical exploitation of film".

The producers termed the websites as "rogue" and accused them of supporting and hosting streaming of movies and collecting illegal profits by providing video on demand.

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