DPIIT issues notification inviting objections to SRAI’s registration as Copyright Society
The Copyright Office and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has issued a notification with reference to the application filed by Screenwriter’s Association of India (SRAI), inviting objections and comments from the general public regarding its registration as a Copyright Society in literary and dramatic works under S33 of the Copyright Act, 1957.
This includes stories, scripts, screenplay, dialogue or any other literary works, excluding lyrics. The deadline for submission of objections is 27th January 2021.
A copy of the notice may be accessed here.
DPIIT introduces e-filing facilities for registration of changes
The Copyright Office and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has issued a notification informing the general public of the introduction of e-filing facilities for “Registration of Changes in the Particulars of Copyright entered in the Register of Copyrights (Form XV).”
The facilities have been available from 18th December, 2020. An indicative user guide has been attached with the notice for reference.
A copy of the notice may be accessed here.
IPAB issues notification for fixing Radio Broadcast Royalties
The Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) has issued a notification with reference to the application filed by Music Broadcast Ltd. and other radio broadcasters, requiring the IPAB to fix the royalties for communication of Sound Recordings to the public by way of broadcast through Radio under Rule 31 of the Copyright Rules, 2013.
The public notice invited suggestions from all interested persons in accordance with sub-rule 3 of Rule 31 of the above Rules. The deadline for the submissions closed on 27th December, 2020.
A copy of the notice may be accessed here.
PIB issues notice regarding India-US MoU
Press Information Bureau (PIB) has issued a notice informing the general public that DPIIT has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The MoU aims at increasing IP co-operation between the two countries. It is a great step forward in India’s journey towards becoming a major player in global innovation and will further the objectives of National IPR Policy, 2016.
A copy of the notice may be accessed here.
IPAB issues public notice for fixing Radio Broadcast Royalties
The Intellectual Property Appellate Board has issued a notification with reference to the application
filed by Music Broadcast Ltd. and other radio broadcasters, requiring the IPAB to fix the royalties for communication of Sound Recordings to the public by way of broadcast through Radio under section 31D of the Copyright Act, 1957 read with Rule 31 of the Copyright Rules, 2013.
The purpose of this notification is to inform all those interested persons of the IPAB’s intention to fix royalties for broadcast of sound recordings through radio and to invite suggestions of all the interested persons in this regard.
A copy of the notice may be accessed here.
Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence releases Joint Statement
The founding members of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) have recently issued a joint statement announcing the creation of the GPAI. In the statement the member countries have emphasised on their support to ensure that artificial intelligence will be developed in a manner that is human-centric. The document elaborates on the various organisations that GPAI will be collaborating with and also specifies the themes of each of these projects.
A copy of the notice may be accessed here.
MEITY Issues Protocols for COVID-19 Mobile App Arogya Setu
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued a notification, with regard to the protocols to be followed for accessing data and sharing knowledge on the Arogya Setu mobile application. This application has been developed as a solution to facilitate the contact tracing of persons who are affected with the COVID-19 disease, thereby curbing the spread of the same in India. In order to ensure that the application is used effectively, the government has issued directions for the secure collection of data from the public and the subsequent implementation of these protocols, which need to be strictly adhered to, by the citizens.
A copy of the notice may be accessed here.
MHA Issues Advisory for Secure Use of Zoom Platform
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued an advisory with regard to the secure use of Zoom meeting platform, especially by private individuals. The advisory states that the platform should not be used by Government officers/officials for official purposes and refers to the earlier advisories of the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team(Cert-In) stating that Zoom is not a safe platform. The MHA has issued certain guidelines to safeguard private individuals who would still like to use the platform for private purposes.
A copy of the advisory may be accessed here.
MeitY issues COVID-19 advisory to social media platforms
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued an advisory to all social media platforms warning them of the misinformation being spread with regard to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since social media platforms are intermediaries as defined under the Information Technology Act, 2000, they have been directed by MeitY to follow the Intermediary Guidelines, as prescribed under the Act and inform their users to refrain from sharing or uploading anonymous data that could affect public order or be unlawful in any way.
A copy of the advisory may be accessed here.
Public Notice issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has issued a Public Notice in reference to the advisory issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, as part of the precautionary measures to be taken for the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid spread of the disease, has led to all the stakeholders raising concerns, due to which all hearings relating to copyright matters scheduled from 17.03.2020 to 31.03.2020 have been adjourned. These cases will be rescheduled in due course of time.
A copy of the notice may be accessed here.
Authored and compiled by Neharika Vhatkar (Associate, BananaIP Counsels)
Recent updates from the Copyright Office are brought to you jointly by the Entertainment Law and Consulting/Strategy Divisions of BananaIP Counsels, a Top IP Firm in India. If you have any questions, or need any clarifications, please write to contact@bananaip.com with the subject: Copyright Office Updates
Disclaimer: Please note that these case updates have been put together from different sources, primary and secondary, and BananaIP’s reporters may not have verified all the decisions published in the bulletin. You may write to contact@bananaip.com for corrections and take down.
