Studios unite to curb AI scraping of films in India

Hollywood studios and major Bollywood guilds have jointly urged Indian policymakers to update copyright rules and block AI companies from scraping films, dialogues and performances without permission. Industry representatives told Delhi’s expert panel that current laws leave creators vulnerable, allowing huge libraries of movies to be ingested by AI models without consent or compensation. They warned that India—one of the fastest-growing streaming markets—risks becoming a test site for unregulated data harvesting.

The coalition argues that training commercial AI models on movies is not “fair dealing” and must require licensing. Generative tools are already replicating actor voices, likenesses and visual styles, threatening jobs across acting, dubbing, VFX and writing. Tech firms oppose tighter rules, saying limits could slow India’s AI ambitions, but unions and screenwriters see echoes of Hollywood’s recent labour disputes over AI.

Producers fear that if AI can freely mimic star personas and soundtrack formulas, investors will become reluctant to finance new films. Legal experts add that unclear rules would push disputes into courts, where global tech giants have the upper hand.

A geopolitical dimension is also shaping the lobbying. U.S. studios view India as a key battleground against Chinese-owned short-video platforms, while Bollywood guilds want stronger protection of “personality rights” amid a surge in deepfake misuse. The Indian government says it is studying global standards before drafting a consultation paper.