The Telangana State Government has set up a Telangana Intellectual Property Crime Unit (TIPCU)

The special unit was launched by the United States ambassador to India Richard Rahul Verma and minister for information technology KT Rama Rao at an event in hyderabad, in the presence of D Suresh Babu - president of Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce, Uday Singh - managing director of Motion Picture Association, Akella Raj Kumar - Telugu Film Chamber's Anti-Piracy Cell chief and Abhishek Chaubey - director of Udta Punjab.

This innovative revelation was made by none other Akella Raj Kumar.

During the launch, Mr. Raj Kumar informed over 10 million downloads of pirated Telugu films have taken place in the past 18 months.

The TIPCU will help in blocking such sites, identify the perpetrators and pursue action.

Mr. Rama Rao said the formation of TIPCU was to send a strong message against piracy. “We are working on methods to control illegal online activities, including child pornography. We wish to take support from other nations like the US and Europe to control piracy,” he said. Piracy instances had come down from January ever since the government crackdown began, he claimed.

“TIPCU is the first ever enforcement unit launched at a state level which has the competence to emerge as a movement among other states of India and the country U.S. can support in such activities,” he said.

Richard Rahul Varma, said it is a strong indication of the Telangana Government’s intention to act strongly against transgressions into the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). “The threat from piracy has been affecting livelihood of thousands. If we do not protect the art forms, culture and creativity, how can they produce great works,” he asked. He stressed that Patent copyrights and trademark copyrights too are important.

Due to this rampant piracy, the rising career and development of most of the popular musicians, directors and artists are depriving down, said film producer D. Suresh Babu. 

Udtha punjab director Abhishek Chaubey recalled that all the years of research in making the film, shooting, post-production and later fight with the Censor Board all came to naught when they realised the print was leaked online the day it got released.

TIPCU is a major step towards curbing the piracy in Tollywood. From now, The Cyber Crime Wing of CID will look after the TIPCU.