IP Democracy: Motion Picture Industry Gains Police Powers in India

The blogosphere was rife yesterday with items that the Motion Picture Association (MPA), the international arm of Hollywood, had obtained blanket search warrant power throughout the Delhi, India, giving the film industry automatic authority to search any home in the city in pursuit of unauthorized film copies. Finally Donna Wentworth at Copyfight found a press release issued by the MPA not only acknowledging this new-found police power but touting it as a good thing.

Here’s a quote from the release.

Mike Ellis, Senior Vice President, Asia-Pacific for the Motion Picture Association (MPA), said, “The issuance of general search and seizure warrants greatly empowers police in the battle against illegal copyright theft, and confirms the commitment of the Indian government and judiciary to fighting a crime that badly damages the country’s film industry.”

The order permits police to search any premise, without a search warrant, if the MPA suspects that pirated products are located there. As Donna points out, the Fourth Amendment to our Constitution would prohibit this kind of activity.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on August 30, 2005 7:00 AM to IP Democracy