(a) whether cable operators and organizations associated with film industry has drawn attention of the Government towards certain shortcomings in the present Copy Right Act.
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to remove the shortcomings in the Act?
THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI P.R.DASMUNSI)
(a) to (c): The nodal Ministry for the Copyright Act 1957 is the Ministry of Human Resource Development (Copyright Division in the Department of Education).
According to the information received from that Department, they have been receiving representations as well as suggestions from various stakeholders in the Copyright Act regarding the need to address their concerns. It has been stated that two sets of representations/ suggestions from the Organizations/ individuals associated with the film industry have come from the music side. These relate to the exception to the Act under Section 52 as well as to the conditions of compulsory license. Certain amendments have also been suggested by the industry in respect of this section.
This Ministry has also suggested certain amendments, which relate to film and music works, during the consultation process. However, Department of Education has requested for consultations with the representatives of the film industry with a view to broad base the process leading upto the amendment of the Act.
The Department of Education has informed that some proposals on amendment to the Copyright Act 1957 to make it more comprehensive and useful have been placed on the website of the Copyright office at www.copyright.gov.in and comments have been invited from the general public. Advertisements to this effect have also been placed in prominent national and regional dailies in Hindi, English and regional languages.
This Ministry has not received any representation from cable operators with reference to the Copyright Act 1957.