Parliament gave its nod to the amendments to Copyright Act, with the Lok Sabha unanimously passing the Copyright Act (Amendment) Bill. The Bill designates the authors as the copyright owners which can’t be assigned to producers contrary to the current practice.
Noting that producers pocketed the royalties while artistes were left in the lurch, HRD minister Kapil Sibal said the new law would help artistes in their old age when they would reap the rewards of work done during their professional life. Sibal drew the attention of the House to the deplorable condition to which shehnai exponent Bismillah Khan and music composer Ravi had sunk in their old age, saying they were unable to even pay their house rent and meet medical expenses.
The Act makes it mandatory for radio and TV broadcasters to pay royalty to the owners of the copyright each time a work of art is broadcast. The amount of royalty would be decided by the Copyright Board rather than left to the whims of companies. The Act bans the bringing out of cover versions of any literary, dramatic or musical work within five years of their original recording. Sibal said the Bill adequately took care of the piracy issue. “We have embraced the wisdom of the standing committee in bringing about various provisions of this Bill,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj supported the government for bringing forward the legislation and noted that the who’s who of the artiste community, ranging from Pandit Ravi Shankar to A R Rahman had proposed changes in the Copyright Act.
Noting that producers pocketed the royalties while artistes were left in the lurch, HRD minister Kapil Sibal said the new law would help artistes in their old age when they would reap the rewards of work done during their professional life. Sibal drew the attention of the House to the deplorable condition to which shehnai exponent Bismillah Khan and music composer Ravi had sunk in their old age, saying they were unable to even pay their house rent and meet medical expenses.
The Act makes it mandatory for radio and TV broadcasters to pay royalty to the owners of the copyright each time a work of art is broadcast. The amount of royalty would be decided by the Copyright Board rather than left to the whims of companies. The Act bans the bringing out of cover versions of any literary, dramatic or musical work within five years of their original recording. Sibal said the Bill adequately took care of the piracy issue. “We have embraced the wisdom of the standing committee in bringing about various provisions of this Bill,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj supported the government for bringing forward the legislation and noted that the who’s who of the artiste community, ranging from Pandit Ravi Shankar to A R Rahman had proposed changes in the Copyright Act.
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