Copyright Act now covers online streaming too

In a move that will benefit audio streaming websites such as Saavn and Gaana as well as artistes, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has brought Internet broadcasting under the ambit of the copyright law.

Now, music companies such as T-Series, Tips and streaming websites have to approach the copyright board to decide royalty on songs. Since Internet broadcasting was not covered under the copyright Act so far, music rights owners used to have an upper hand in deciding royalties to be paid by streaming websites and were not bound to share the revenues with artists.

Pratibha Singh, an intellectual property (IP) lawyer, said the decision recognizes that the Internet has become a powerful medium. “Now, music right holders have to share with any internet player that wants to avail of their content in return of payment of a royalty. They can no longer hold back their content from any internet broadcaster and share it exclusively with a competing player. This will also benefit artists who will now get their share of royalty from revenue generated from online dissemination of the content,” she added.