India becomes a part of global copyright treaties

India will be now be a part of global treaties on copyright, cheering authors, producers and performers, who upload their works on the digital space. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to become a part of the WIPO Copyright Treaty and WIPO Performers and Phonograms Treaty which extends coverage of copyright to the Internet and digital environment.

Union Information Technology Minister Ravi Shanker Prasad said that the cabinet has approved the proposal submitted by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which is a step towards the objective laid in the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy adopted by the government in 2016. The policy aims to get value for IPRs through commercialisation by providing guidance and support to EPR owners about commercial opportunities of e-commerce through Internet and mobile platforms.

Prasad said that the decision is in line with the digital push of the government in an environment where it has become important for India to be part of international treaties on copyright in the digital era. With the signing of the two treaties, the domestic right holders will get international protection. It also provides them a level playing field in other countries. India already extends protection to foreign works through the International Copyright order and these treaties will enable Indian right holders to get reciprocal protection abroad. The government said that the move will go a long way in instilling confidence, spur business growth and create a vibrant creative economy.

It had been a long pending demand of the copyright industry that India must become a part of the twin treaties given the fact that it has a rich repository of talent which is increasingly active in the digital space. The accession to global treaty will enable creative right-holders enjoy the fruit of their labour, through international copyright system that can be used to secure a return on the investment made in producing and distributing creative works. 

It will also facilitate international protection of domestic rights holder by providing them level-playing field in other countries as India already extends protection to foreign works through the International Copyright order and these treaties will enable Indian right holders to get reciprocal protection abroad. Also it will instil confidence and distribute creative works in digital environment with return on investment. The government believes that it would spur business growth and contribute to the development of a vibrant creative economy and cultural landscape, because most foreign companies were hesitant to share their know-how with India due to weak copyright laws.

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The decision provides artists with a level playing field in other countries India already extends protection to foreign works through the International Copyright order and these treaties will enable Indian right holders to get reciprocal protection abroad