MUMBAI: Legendary Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb, who passed away yesterday in London after a long battle with cancer, had written to Union HRD and IT Minister Kapil Sibal two years ago to ensure passage of Copyright Amendment Act 2010. The bill is likely to be tabled in Lok Sabha soon.
As the then president of the Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), Gibb encouraged noted lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar’s efforts to secure rights for Indian songwriters and composers. Akhtar had then addressed the World Summit (WCS) in Brussels and spoken about how the author’s rights are neglected in India.
In February 2010 Gibb had written, “Indian film producers exploit works of creators through blanket buyouts, depriving them of their rights to control further use or collect royalties. Indian movie and record moguls launched a relentless lobbying campaign against the proposed amendments after their approval by the Indian cabinet in December 2009.”
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Gibb said, “I have witnessed with great pleasure that India has taken major steps forward towards the recognition of authors’ rights, and I salute Javed Akhtar who has led the fight for this recognition.”
The much delayed Copyright Amendment Bill, 2010 was approved by Rajya Sabha last week. The bill will remove operational difficulties and address issues related to the digital world and internet. The bill also seeks to bring Indian laws originally enacted in 1957 in conformity with international norms and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
The Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb who in association with his brothers Barry and Maurice redefined disco era offering falsetto harmonies and funky beats passed away in Chelsea hospital on Sunday evening. The news was confirmed with an official statement released by Gibb’s representative Doug Wright, “The family of Robin Gibb … announce with great sadness that Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery. The family has asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time.”
The Stayin’ Alive hitmaker was diagnosed with cancer in August 2010, when he underwent a surgery for a blocked intestine. In July 2010, the singer surprised doctors by emerging from a coma after contracting pneumonia.
The disco singer enjoyed a musical career spanning over six decades, from the 1950s to his recent classical venture, The Titanic Requiem in 2012 which was penned with his son Robin-John. His band Bee Gees was officially born in Australia in 1963 and released their first single “The Battle of the Blue and the Grey.” The group had sold more than 200 million records and helped turn disco into a worldwide phenomenon with popular hits ‘How Deep Is Your Love’, ‘Stayin’ Alive’ and Tragedy.
Born in 1949, Robin is survived by his second wife Dwina, and his four children who live in Australia. Robin’s twin brother Maurice died due to a blocked intestine in 2003 and Andy Gibb, their younger brother who was died in 1988 from cocaine addiction.
