Usually a clear cut question when it comes to Hollywood DVDs but what is considered a pirate DVD on Indian DVD circles?

Ali

IMHO.

A DVD can be called a pirate if there is more than one copy and one of them is released by a company that does not have the rights to it. This point gets a little confusing with the DEI / EROS and B4U / EROS titles since the licensing ranout. But for most others, it is pretty clear cut. For eg. YRF has the rights to DDLJ and they haven't yet released the DVD. So the DVDs out there are pirates in my view.

Along with this the illegal copied DVDs are pirates as well. Photocopy covers and what not.

What I don't consider pirates, are badly mastered DVDs. Just because the company didn't do a good job, it doesn't mnake them pirates. They are still DVDs that I would avoid, but the comapny is not pirating. They are just technically inept. Also there is not enough market force for them to change.

any unauthorized distribution, marketing of movies,music or copying of copyrighted material for which a company or individaul doesn't have the rights. When a reputable company like yashraj indicates on the DVD "not for sale in india" it raises my eyebrows. DVD releases like pakeezah from GVI or
some releases from Apollo,parag,sky or others appears to have been transferred in someones basement and so on and so forth.

lakeshore