A formula to bollywood copy right act

A possible solution regarding the amendment in the Copyright Act is that producers and authors/composers can decide their share of royalties by signing a contract before a film goes on the floors.

After the war of words between Aamir Khan and Javed Akhtar, and Sonu Nigam and Vidhu Vinod Chopra over the amendment in the Copyright Act, there now seems to be a solution in sight.

On Wednesday evening, producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra went to Delhi to meet HRD minister Kapil Sibal to discuss the pending royalty issues. During the two-hourlong meeting, Chopra explained to Sibal that the proposed solution by the music fraternity of 50 per cent of the royalty amount being with the producer while 25 per cent each will be shared by the music director and lyricist was not feasible.

Among various solutions, Sibal and Chopra decided that a possible solution could be that the producer and author/composer can decide their share of royalties and other fees by a contract signed prior to a film going on the floors. Acting on the proposed solution, every member of the committee has received a copy of the proposed settlement on Thursday.

According to the proposed solution, it is now clear that the right to negotiate and arrive at mutually acceptable terms is with the negotiating parties i.e. the producer and the author/composer. This will be part of the contract that the parties will enter into prior to making a film. The parties are free to do business any which way they desire.

Chopra said, “We as an industry really appreciate Kapil Sibal’s efforts. This is for the betterment of the industry.”