NEW DELHI: The government today said that copyright enforcement cells have been set up in most of the States and Union Territory administrations to check violation of copyrights of films.

Information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi today informed the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) that his ministry has made suggestions for restricting incidence of piracy in the film and music sector while considering the on going amendments to the Copyright Act.

The ministry, he said, has also received a proposal to enact an Optical Disc Law to counter piracy in the entertainment sector.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has been entrusted with the task of determining the need for a separate legislation for manufacture of optical discs.

Apart from this, I&B ministry has taken measures like organizing training programmes for police personnel on copyright issues in the film sector.

The National Film Development Corporation Ltd has been commissioned to produce an anti piracy campaign and a film against piracy has been made by Public Service Broadcast Trust on behalf on the government for telecast on Doordarshan, the minister said.

The Copyright Act, 1957, which falls under the purview of the ministry of human resource development, contains, inter alia, legal provisions regarding copyright in cinematograph films and music.

The responsibility for dealing with offences under the Copyright Act rests with the State Governments and Union Territory administrations.

According to entertainment industry estimates, revenue loss from film piracy is about Rs 12 billion annually.