A move to amend a 53-year-old law to give independent rights to writers, lyricists and singers, thereby entitling them to royalty, on Tuesday came in for strong opposition from some film producers.
Members of Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPA) on Tuesday deposed before the parliamentary standing committee on HRD and opposed the proposed Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2010, saying it will affect their interest.
The bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha in April and has been referred to the standing committee headed by Oscar Fernandes.
The amendment seeks to bring the country’s copyright laws in line with international standards in Internet and digital technology and provide for stringent punishment up to two years imprisonment and fine for violation.
Eminent personalities like Mahesh Bhat, Mukesh Bhat, Yash Chopra and Ramesh Sippy gave their views before the standing committee on Tuesday, sources said.
They felt that sharing of rights with the authors, lyricists and singers cannot be implemented.
At present, producers of films are keeping all rights with themselves. As a result the lyricists and singers are not getting royalty in case their works are used for commercial purposes.
Under the proposed law, authors will have rights to receive royalties and the benefits enjoyed through copyright societies.
The Bill also has a provision to provide for physically-challenged persons to access copyright materials in specialised formats.
—PTI