(PDF) Impact of Online Digital Piracy on the Indian Film Industry

: Of the total losses, INR 13,700 crore stem from theatrical leaks, while INR 8,700 crore is attributed to pirated OTT (Over-the-Top) streaming content.

The growth of digital piracy in India, which rose by during the 2020 pandemic, is fueled by a complex interplay of socioeconomic factors:

Piracy remains a "unshakeable shadow" over the Indian film industry, which is the world's leader in online video piracy visits. In 2023 alone, the Indian entertainment sector suffered an estimated (approx. $2.7 billion USD) in revenue losses due to illicit distribution.

: While sites like ExtraMovies are illegal, users often turn to them not just for cost, but for the convenience of finding fragmented content (from Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ Hotstar) in a single location. Why Piracy Persists Despite Legal Options

: Many viewers view piracy as a "victimless crime," often unaware that it directly impacts the livelihoods of millions of daily-wage workers in the industry.

: Piracy networks exploit "windowing"—the gap between a theatrical release and its legal digital debut—often leaking films a day before their official release.