LOK SABHA CLEARS THE COPYRIGHT (AMENDMENT) BILL,2012 ,:
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The Lok Sabha on Tuesday during the budget session unanimously voted in support and accorded to the Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2012, which has been pending in Parliament for the last two years, with overwhelming support from members across the political continuum. This Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2010 will provide royalty to lyricists, remove operational difficulties and address newer issues related to the digital world and internet. The Bill had been already passed by the Rajya Sabha on 17th of May, 2012.
The Bill makes it mandatory for broadcasters to pay royalty to the owners of the copyright each time their creation is broadcast. It also bans persons from bringing out cover versions of any literary, dramatic or musical work for five years from the first recording of the original creation.
The Bill was originally not listed for voting in revised ‘list of business’ but at the last minute listing HRD Minister Kapil Sibal moving the bill in the lower house said it will do justice to those professionals who had been creating songs for the Hindi films. Even the Leader of Opposition Ms. Sushma Swaraj herself commended the Speaker for accelerating the passage of this very important legislation. She supported the bill and said it was long overdue. "It is a step in the right direction in protecting the interest of the lyricists, who create wonderful songs," she said.
Saha who is a CPI(M) MP from West Bengal informed the House that the Minister had very ‘cleverly’ dropped the parallel imports clause to protect the interests of publishers and demanded that parallel imports be allowed.
Lyricist and nominated member Javed Akhtar had complained earlier while participating in the discussion on the bill in the Upper House that companies have rights over songs and the writers and singers do not get much from the commercial success. He also added that Music companies dictate terms to even noted musicians like A R Rahman and others.
The bill also seeks to bring Indian laws enacted in 1957 in conformity with international norms and World Intellectual Property Organisation guidelines. The amendments will now have to be officially notified into law by the Government of India after which the Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2012 will have the force of law.
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