Lok Sabha passes Copyright Act Amendment Bill 2012

The Copyright Act (Amendment) Bill, 2012 was passed by the Lok Sabha  to give Song writers, artistes and music directors royalty for their creations. The half-century-old Copyright Act was passed with the support of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The bill was appreciated by Bollywood stars and people from the world of music like Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, lyricist and Rajya Sabha member Javed Akhtar, Composer Milind, Composer-singer Shankar Mahadevan.

The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on May 17. Introducing the Bill, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said that new law will most benefit those artists who were reduced to poverty in their old age as producers cornered all royalties. The bill covers seven broad areas: right of author and music composer, right to visually impaired, extending compulsory regime to unpublished work and imposition of punitive action, among others.