India joins Internet Treaties to ensure online royalties for authors, composers and music publishers
The IPRS whole heartedly welcomes the decision of the Union
Cabinet on July 4th 2018, as reported by the PIB, that India would accede to
the “Internet Treaties” namely the WIPO Copyright Treaty (“WCT”) and WIPO
Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT). This is an extremely positive
development which will greatly benefit the Indian creative industries. While
India had aligned its Copyright law with the WCT & WPPT in 2012, the formal
accession by India to these Treaties will greatly help the Indian creative
industry by ensuring creators and creative businesses benefit from the digital
and online dissemination of their works protected under the Berne Convention
and other Treaties. The WCT and WPPT will also formalise India’s existing
commitment to enhance the protection of works by mandating technological
protection measures as also ensure the reliability of digital/online
marketplaces by preventing the tampering or dilution of rights management
information. IPRS and its entire membership support and thank the Government of
India headed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for its decision.
Mr. Javed
Akhtar, poet, script writer and lyricist and Chairman of IPRS said, “Full
credit is due to Shri. Suresh Prabhu the Minister Department of Industrial
Policy & Promotion (“DIPP”) as well as to the stellar team at DIPP
comprising of Shri. Ramesh Abhishek, Secretary, Shri. Rajiv Agarwal, Joint
Secretary, Shri. Sushil Satpute, Director and Shri. Hoshiar Singh The Registrar
Copyrights for ensuring that India truly mainstreams its copyright sector into
the rapidly growing digital markets. This will benefit creators as the Berne
Convention will find firm footing in the digital domain. I congratulate and
thank the Government of India for this positive decision and for supporting
artistes and the creative sector”
Mr. Vikram
Mehra, MD of Saregama India Ltd and Director of IPRS said, “The Cabinet
decision to bring India into the WIPO Internet Treaties’ fold is a very
positive development. Securing and protecting the right of distribution and
dissemination in the online and digital space is just the push needed to ensure
that copyright sector truly benefits from the rapid expansion of digital and
online platforms in India. Kudos to the DIPP!”
Mr. Raju Singh Composer and Director IPRS said, “India is
truly now a part of the world-wide market in relation to creative works. The
decision of the Cabinet to become part of the internet Treaties is the one
thing we need to signify the arrival of India’s truly significant soft power
signified by its creative industries. Congratulations to the Government!”
Mr. Rakesh Nigam CEO, IPRS said, “it is heartening to see how
serious the Government in its efforts to see that the interests of the creative
sector are protected not only in India, but that the sector is able to benefit
from a harmonised system across the world. The decision of the Cabinet to
accede to the Internet Treaties will ensure that IPRS and the copyright sector
in India is able to secure due benefits from around the world in a more
efficient manner, particularly in the digital domain”
IPRS is the
sole Indian copyright society, registered under the Copyright Act, 1957, administering musical works and literary
works associated with musical works. The members of IPRS comprise of Authors
(lyricists), Music Composers and Music Publishers.
Comments