VD Satheesan Calls for Changes in Copyright Law to Tackle Growing Threats of Piracy and AI in Keralam
Speaking at a Kochi seminar on music, cinema and law, Keralam CM V.D. Satheesan called for stronger copyright laws to protect creative works from piracy and address challenges created by AI.
Kochi: Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has called for changes in existing copyright laws to protect the film industry from piracy and address new challenges emerging from artificial intelligence (AI). He said filmmaking involves large-scale investment as well as the creative efforts of a large number of artists and technical experts. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen legal protection to prevent piracy from harming the entire sector.
Satheesan made the remarks on Friday, September 11, while inaugurating a seminar titled ‘Music, Cinema and Law: Exploring the Intersections of Art, Culture and Law’ in Kochi. The programme is being jointly organised by the Kerala Judicial Academy and the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS).
The seminar will continue until September 13 and will discuss current legal issues related to music, cinema, copyright, AI, digital platforms and creative rights.
Impact of Piracy on the Film Industry
The Chief Minister said that film production involves substantial financial investment and the creative efforts of many people. When an unauthorised copy of a film is made and circulated online or through other means, it directly affects people and institutions associated with the film industry.
Advocating necessary amendments to existing laws, he said copyright protection should be strengthened in a way that can effectively protect films and other creative works from piracy.
In the era of digital platforms and high-speed internet, it has become easier than before to distribute unauthorised copies of films, music or videos to a large number of people. Therefore, the need to develop the legal framework and its enforcement mechanisms in line with changing technology was also discussed.
AI Creates New Challenges, Concerns Over Deepfakes
Satheesan did not identify only traditional piracy as a challenge but also drew attention to new risks emerging from the rapidly increasing use of AI. He said AI is being used to create music, images and videos. At the same time, new threats related to deepfakes and security have also emerged.
He specifically raised the issue of fake visuals of prominent personalities created with the help of AI. The circulation of such fake videos or images on social media can affect a person’s image and identity. According to the Chief Minister, the legal framework must also evolve with time to address such technological challenges.
AI technology has made the process of creating content easier, but it has also raised questions about the extent to which a person’s image, voice or identity can be used and who would be responsible in cases of misuse. Such issues were discussed at the seminar in the broader context of legal questions related to copyright and digital platforms.
Relationship Between Law, Cinema and Music
Justice Soumen Sen, Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, said at the seminar that law, music and cinema may appear to be separate fields, but they are deeply connected to human behaviour and emotions. According to him, art expresses human experiences, while law works to regulate and protect those experiences and the rights associated with them.
Justice Sen also emphasised the social and cultural importance of music. He said music carries within it the memories, resistance, language and identity of a society. At the same time, in a world marked by conflict and tension, music can also serve as a means of providing relief to people.
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Copyright and Digital Platforms Also Discussed
The programme is discussing not only film piracy but also issues related to the protection of creative rights in the changing digital environment. The relationship between AI-based content, digital platforms and copyright has become more complex than before.
For creators, it has become important to ensure that their work is not used without permission and that effective legal remedies are available when their content is circulated without authorisation through digital platforms. At the same time, the growing use of AI has raised questions about how capable the existing copyright system is of dealing with situations arising from new technologies.
Speaks About the Importance of Art and Artists
In his address, Satheesan also highlighted the importance of art and artists. He said art gives people an opportunity to rise above the various difficulties of life for some time and experience moments of happiness. Therefore, protecting artists and their creative works is also important.
Supreme Court Justice V. Mohan attended the programme as the chief guest. Kerala Higher Education Minister R. Bindu was also present.
Amid this entire development, Satheesan’s emphasis is that the law must also move forward with the rapidly changing nature of technology. On one hand, creative fields such as film and music need to be protected from piracy, while on the other, clear legal mechanisms are increasingly necessary to address new challenges such as AI-generated deepfakes and fake content.