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Thursday, November 3, 2011

Sikkim needs to adhere to Copyright laws says Copyright Enforcement Wing

OFFICE TO BE SET UP HERE SOON FOR LICENSES
GANGTOK, 02 Nov: Representatives of Copyright Enforcement Wing of Public Performance License [PPL], authorized by Ministry of Human Resource Development, today met senior officials of the Sikkim government on processes involved with the Copyright Act 1957.
As explained by the enforcement wing coordinator for North Bengal & Sikkim, Nilanjan Ghosh, there is a low awareness among the people here about PPL, a mandatory requirement for playing music in commercial establishments, public places or events as decreed by the Act to protect the interests of music companies. The Act has already been implemented in Sikkim as early as 1979, but Ghosh states that very few commercial establishments like banks and hotels in the State are adhering to the PPL requirement.
A point in this case is the music system being played at MG Marg by the State government. If the songs are protected by Copyright Act then the State government also must take a PPL and we will bring the matter to their notice, said the PPL official.
“The need now is to generate awareness among the people and we want to work with the State government on this. We met senior government officials today and we are happy with their response”, said  Mr Ghosh. We also want the Sikkim government like other State governments to issue a circular making a PPL license mandatory while granting licenses to commercial establishments or granting permission to public events where musical activities are involved, he said.
Such a circular will enable proper implementation of the PPL system as per the Copyright Act, Mr Ghosh said giving an example of the recent Durga puja festivities in North Bengal where organizers took PPL as per directives from the district administration.
Though Sikkim does not have a PPL office or representative at the moment, Mr Ghosh said that an office will be set up soon in Gangtok where people or commercial units can approach for PPLs. We also have a central number where people from Sikkim can contact us and get PPLs without coming to Siliguri, he said.
It was informed that license fees for PPL for hotels range from Rs.9000 to Rs. 35000 per annum and for hosting musical events, the fees can start with Rs. 7500. There are also similar slabs for restaurants and other commercial units where music is played. Eighty five per cent of the PPL fees collected goes to the registered music companies.

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