India"s film makers are offering Internet movie downloads on file-trading service Kazaa in a move that could lower costs and boost revenues in Bollywood, the world"s most prolific film production centre. Some 35 producers will be able to sell movies using Kazaa, a file-sharing program owned by Australia"s Sharman Networks, according to company statement. The move stands in sharp contrast to the position of the US film industry, which has been reluctant to adopt downloads for distribution, focusing on stamping out Internet-based piracy.
"In a distribution deal struck between Sharman"s partner Altnet... and IndiaFM.com, one of the most popular Bollywood entertainment sites, Kazaa"s estimated 60 million global users will gain access to previously unavailable content," Kazaa stated. The industry started its first download last month when Kazaa"s users were offered "Supari" (A Contract for Killing), a slick thriller, for $2.99 (£2). The file was programmed to self destruct after being viewed and could not be copied.