The Indian Copyright Act as amended in 1984 includes stringent provisions to check piracy by enhancing punishments for the offences of infringement and augmenting the powers of the police to seize infringing copies.

Section 2 of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957 relates to definition of copyright works and reproduction processes. It is expressly stated that "Video films shall also be deemed to be work analogous to cinematography". The Act contains new Sections 52A and 68A in regard to audio and video cassettes; these sections require that all reproductions of records and video films must give particulars of the copyright owner and of the person who has made the copy. The video films have also to carry a copy of the certificate granted by the Board of Film Certification.

Provision to Section 51 of the Act as amended in 1994 permits imports of one copy of any work for private and domestic use of the importer.

Censorship Laws in India

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India is the governing body for the purpose of sanctioning of films including video films for public exhibition in India.

The CBFC after examining a film may :

• give sanction for unrestricted public exhibition ("U" certificate) provided the film does not contain any material which should not be viewed by a child
  
• give sanction for public exhibition restricted to adults only ("A" certificate)
  
• give sanction for public exhibition restricted to members of any profession or any class of persons, having regard to the nature, content and theme of the film ("S" certificate)
  
• give sanction for public exhibition under any of the above mentioned category subject to excisions or modifications in the film as deemed necessary by the Board
  
• refuse to give sanction for public exhibition of the film