Private sector wants a new copyright law

Kathmandu, Feb. 23

Private sector business and stakeholders had demanded change in the existing copyright law.

Speaking at an interaction on Copyright: Legal Provisions and Challenges organised by the Federtion of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) on Tuesday, they said that the Copyright Act, 2002 and Copyright Bylaws, 2004 should be amended to address the demands created by the digitalisaton.

They said that the present legal framework for the intellectual property is ad hoc and inadequate. "The law that was formulated in the age of manual creation cannot address the need of the digital age," they said while suggesting that the Office of the Copyright Registrar to initiate the creation of new laws and policies.

Other recommendations were about increasing the role, rights and responsibilities of the registrar, launching copyright promotion programmes, equipping the OCR with the required resources and technology, and organising discussions among the stakeholders. 

Businesspersons and artistes demanded that the government should help in establishing server-centre to develop the music, film and other art professions.

Likewise, the role of Royalty Collection Society should be strengthened and the government should support the society until it becomes able to handle all royalties, they said.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bhanubhakta Dhakal expressed his commitment to bringing in a new law to address the shortcomings in the existing copyright law and urged the FNCCI to submit the recommendations to the Ministry.

He assured that the government would offer required support in the timely amendment to the Copy Right Law.

Senior Vice president of the FNCCI Chandra Prasad Dhakal said that an effective legal instrument in the copyright sector would be instrumental in promoting Nepali music and film as well as attracting foreign investment.

Copyright Registrar Bishnu Kumari Bhattarai said that the existing copyright laws needed changes and her office was working for the amendment.

Chairman of the Film and Entertainment Forum at the FNCCI Akash Adhikari said that a concrete set of recommendations would be sent to the government soon.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 February 2021.