The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered a detailed investigation into multiplex giant PVR Inox following a complaint by the Film and Television Producers’ Guild of India. The Guild alleged that the country’s largest cinema operator continues to collect the virtual digital fee (VDF), a charge that was meant to be phased out years ago.

The VDF was introduced in 2007 to fund the transition from analogue projectors to digital cinema systems. While Hollywood studios stopped paying the fee nearly a decade after completing the switch, Indian producers argue that they are still being forced to bear the expense, which disproportionately hurts small and mid-sized producers.

CCI’s 90-day probe timeline

In its order dated 30 September, the CCI noted a prima facie violation of comp

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