Vijayawada: Taking serious stand against a passenger streaming a pirated version of the newly released movie Thandel, starring Naga Chaitanya, on board a state-run bus, the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has condemned the act and initiated action. The corporation has suspended the hire bus bearing registration number AP39WB3637 and has ordered a comprehensive probe into the matter.
APSRTC executive director (operations) A Appala Raju stated that a passenger used the cast function on a mobile phone to stream the movie on the Android TV installed in the bus. “The state-run road transport corporation strictly condemns such unethical practices, as they constitute a violation of Section 13 of the Copyright Act, 1957,” he said in a press release issued on Wednesday.
Following the incident, APSRTC directed depot managers and district public transport officers (DPTOs) to implement a series of guidelines to prevent such occurrences in the future.
The guidelines include a strict prohibition on streaming unauthorised content. No pirated or unapproved movies, web series, or TV shows shall be played on APSRTC-owned or hired buses, and only legally authorized content approved by RTC should be displayed.
Additionally, the RTC has proposed disabling unnecessary casting functions, such as screen mirroring, casting, and unauthorised file sharing, on the Android TVs installed in RTC-owned and hired buses. Surprise checks will also be conducted to ensure compliance with these guidelines, and any hired bus found violating the norms will be taken out of service, with appropriate action initiated.
Bus crew members, including drivers and conductors, must ensure that the entertainment system is used exclusively for permitted content. Depot managers and DPTOs have been directed to sensitise staff on this matter. Furthermore, APSRTC has suggested imposing penalties, including fines and imprisonment, under the Copyright Act, 1957, for pirating content. Authorities have also been instructed to take prompt action in response to public complaints regarding unauthorised content screening in buses.
