At the WAVES Summit 2025, a panel discussion titled Piracy: Safeguarding Content through Technology underscored the urgent need for a coordinated response to digital piracy, a growing threat to the media and entertainment industry. Moderated by Neil Gane, Vice President and Head of Asia Pacific at IP House, the session brought together experts in media, law, and cybersecurity to address the economic and security challenges posed by piracy.
Vivek Couto, Managing & Executive Director of Media Partners Asia, highlighted the economic toll, stating, “Online piracy is projected to cost the industry over 10% in lost revenue between 2025 and 2029.” He emphasized the potential for growth, noting that effective anti-piracy measures could increase legal video service users by 25%, unlocking a $0.5 billion boost in content investment, raising the total value to $3.8 billion by 2029. Couto urged stakeholders to view anti-piracy efforts as an opportunity to expand India’s digital video economy.
Dr. Shruti Mantri, Associate Director at ISB Institute of Data Science, linked piracy to cybercrime, warning that tools like trojans, ransomware, and spyware often accompany pirated content, with users aged 18–24 being particularly vulnerable. She advocated for public awareness campaigns and announced a Digital Piracy Summit, organized by ISB with CBI and Interpol, scheduled for July 9–10.
Anurag Kashyap, Head of Anti-Piracy Operations at DAZN, shared insights from the sports sector, outlining a strategy of “detection, disruption, and deterrence.” He emphasized preemptive enforcement and the use of invisible watermarking to track leaks. Legal expert Anil Lale, Head-Legal at Jio Hotstar, stressed proactive enforcement, stating, “Prosecuting pirates and identifying leak sources is the biggest deterrent.”
Praveen Anand of Anand and Anand Associates called for a blend of technological and judicial solutions, including AI, blockchain, watermarking, and anti-camcording measures like metal detectors. “Timely legal action is essential to create deterrence,” he said.
The panel concluded with a call for a united approach, integrating technology, legislation, enforcement, and public education to safeguard digital content. WAVES 2025 continues to drive actionable solutions for the media industry’s critical challenges.
