MUMBAI: The Copyright Board has given radio stations time till 31 March 2009 to file evidence and supporting documents, on the issue of music royalties.
The Copyright Board will begin hearings on the issue in May this year, after the music licensing bodies file their replies to the evidence filed by the radio operators.
The issue of music royalties has been a contentious one for long, with the music companies and radio stations claiming injustice at the hands of the other. The Information and Broadcasting ministry had intervened in the matter on 12 December 2008, getting both sides to sit across the table and commence negotiations for an amicable solution.
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While the Supreme Court in its order on 16 May 2008 had stated that the Copyright Board was the constitutional authority to decide on royalty rates for the industry for automatic licencing, the I&B ministry had stepped in to provide impetus for the same.
According to the Rahul Gupta, who heads the Association of Radio Operators of India’s committee on music royalty, this is a one of the first concrete steps towards resolution of the long pending issue, and is a well-required move.
PPL CEO Vipul Pradhan told Radioandmusic.com that it was good that the Copyright Board had set a time limit and set the proceedings in action, as radio operators have been loath to sitting across the table for swift negotiations and a timely solution to the issue.
IPRS CEO Rakesh Nigam adds, “It is a positive move as the copyright board doesnt wish to prolong the issue and wants to derive at a decision at the earliest without allowing extensions to any of the parties involved.” In the meantime, the licensing bodies state that the criminal cases filed by them against the radio operators would continue as it involves infringement of copyright.
