New graphic novel aims to teach children about online movie piracy

Escape from Terror Byte City, the new graphic novel launched in Mumbai by the recently formed Bollywood-Hollywood anti-piracy coalition, aims to make children aware of the perils of online movie piracy. The coalition will be distributing approximately 10,000 copies of the novel to children aged five to ten in schools, multiplexes, malls and shopping arenas. 

The book tells the story of two boys who become trapped in a virtual city after downloading an unauthorised copy of a movie from a peer-to-peer filesharing site. The novel will be published in three languages —Hindi, Marathi and English. Motion Picture Dist. Association (India) managing director Rajiv Dalal says, “A large number of school children are at the age where they often indulge in file sharing without knowing how it can harm the industry as a whole. But they are also very quick to learn, if they are taught about it.”

Profits from piracy have known to be diverted to fund other illegal activities such as terrorism. Dalal believes that because graphic novels are fun, it will be easier for children to grasp the threats of internet piracy. The novel addresses various threats ranging from viruses, bank accounts frauds to film piracy. “India is among the top ten countries in the world where piracy rates are high. In 2008, close to 959 million dollars were lost in the Indian subcontinent, due to DVD piracy. We still don’t have a figure on the losses due to internet piracy. In the coming years, when 3G technology will become enabled, it will be difficult to limit the size of losses,” he says. 

The novel is an adaptation of the version which was launched in New Zealand last September. The coalition is hoping to replicate its success in India.