Copyright Bill for more powers to talents

The Bill, introduced by Human Resource Development  minister Kapil Sibal, among other things, proposes to make the director and the producer the joint copyright owner of any cinematographic work, as against the current system of only the producer being the rights holder.

Once the amendments are incorporated in the Act, it will also ensure that film song lyricists, composers and screenplay writers also get their rights on royalty, unlike now when they get just a one-time professional fee.

“The changes are in conformity with the provisions of the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT),” said Sibal while introducing the amendments.