Copyright Bill

The Rajya Sabha has approved the Copyright Amendment Bill which seeks to remove operational difficulties and address newer issues related to the digital world and world wide web. The Bill could, however, be passed with the government dropping a provision of giving royalty to the principal director of a film. The bill, moved by HRD minister Kapil Sibal, also seeks to bring Indian laws originally enacted in 1957 in conformity with international norms and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Nominated member and lyricist Javed Akhtar said that companies have sway over songs and the writers and singers do not get much from the commercial success.