Copyright Bill likely to be tabled in Lok Sabha today

New Delhi: The much-delayed Copyright Bill, providing for certain important amendments to the Copyright Act, is expected to be tabled in the Lok Sabha today. The bill was approved by the Rajya Sabha last week.

The bill will remove operational difficulties and address newer issues related to the digital world and Internet.

The Copyright Amendment Bill, 2010, moved by HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, also seeks to bring Indian laws originally enacted in 1957 in conformity with international norms and World Intellectual Property Organisation.

Writer Javed Akhtar, who has been lobbying for the bill for the past two years, expressed his gratitude to the government and the Opposition for passing the bill in the Rajya Sabha.

"Everyone is happy that the bill has been passed by the Rajya Sabha and am sure that it will be passed by the Lok Sabha too. It is an important piece of legislature for the Bollywood industry, it will act as a safeguard for all creative people of the fraternity," he said.

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During the debate on the bill in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Akhtar, a nominated member, had complained that companies have sway over songs and the writers and singers do not get much from the commercial success.

Film actress and Samajwadi Party member Jaya Bachchan talked about widespread prevalence of piracy of songs and music and urged that the Bill should address the issue. She stressed that everybody associated with creation of a song of film should be rewarded as these are "created collectively."

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There are seven broad areas that are reflected in the bill. These include right of author and music composer, right to visually impaired, extending compulsory regime to unpublished work, imposition of punitive actions among others.