Mumbai Police books Google CEO Sundar Pichai, others for Copyright Act violation
FIR filed against Google CEO Pichai, others in Mumbai
Mumbai: Mumbai Police on Wednesday booked Google CEO Sundar Pichai and five other company officials for Copyright Act violation.
"On directions of a court, a case has been registered against Google CEO Sundar Pichai and five other company officials for Copyright Act violation," said Mumbai police.
The case has been registered following the complaint lodged by film director Suneel Darshan who has alleged that Google allowed unauthorized persons to upload his film 'Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha' on YouTube.
Darshan has claimed that though he had not uploaded the movie anywhere, nor sold it to anyone, several channels on YouTube are profiteering off it and Google has refused to take the movie off those channels. His FIR, filed with the MIDC Police Station at Andheri East, alleges infringement of Sections 51, 63 and 69 of the Copyright Act of 1957.
Sharing this information with IANS, he said: "My faith and belief in the advancement of technology are implicit, but the infringement of my rights is a cause of grave concern." He added: "My entire copyrighted movie, apart from its songs and sequences from it, have been uploaded and monetised, and I have helplessly watched such illegal acts."
Darshan clarified that it was only after his repeated requests went unanswered that he had to seek legal help. "Their actions and replies indicate they are well-versed in deflecting queries from my end," he said.
Maintaining that he had the utmost respect for Google, he however said the corporation had been unfair to genuine creators. "I have total respect for both the technology and the funds that they (Google) bring to India,," Darshan said, but added that the corporation's reluctance to work with experienced content creators and benefiting from their knowledge had only led to mutual loss, and denied quality content to the audience.
Asked what his next step would be, Darshan said: "I will move according to the law and the advice of my lawyers." Further investigation into the matter is underway.