Punjab music body for steps to combat piracy

Association plans to rope in a brand ambassador

Indian Music Industry (IMI) and Phonographic Performance Ltd have asked the state government to take certain measures to address the issue of piracy in Punjab.

The industry association will launch campaigns with the aim of making Punjab a model state with "zero tolerance for piracy" by the end of this year. It is also looking for a brand ambassador who can create awareness against the piracy.

To take steps in this direction, it has already stepped up its anti-piracy spend 50 per cent in the region. Besides, it will also increase the number of its members in the anti-piracy cell to nine from the current five. It is also considering taking action even against those people who buy such pirated products.

Talking to Business Standard, V J Lazarus, President, The Indian Music Industry and Phonographic Performance Limited, said, "In Punjab's Rs 150 crore music industry, almost 50 per cent is the pirated market.

"We have been working actively in the state and have stepped up our efforts to curb piracy. The total number of anti-piracy raids in Punjab have increased to 99 in 2005 from just 24 in 2000. The collection of Public Performance License (PPL) fee has increased to Rs 54 lakh from just Rs 2 lakh in one year. The market in Punjab is very price sensitive and the mindset needs to be changed. For this, we are looking for a brand ambassador."

He was impressed by the popularity of Sunny Deol and said that he might be approached for this purpose.

He demanded that the Punjab government should bring out measures on the lines of Tamil Nadu, if it wants to save the industry in the state. "Punjabi music has been increasingly attracting global interest and we wish to harness this. We want the government in Punjab to implement Goonda Act for piracy cases as it is done in Tamil Nadu. Goonda Act allows the police to detain the proclaimed offenders/pirates under 15 days judicial custody in addition to a detention for a period of one year under pending investigation. In Tamil Nadu, the state recorded highest conviction rates in the country for piracy and the sales of the companies increased by 25-30 per cent as a result of decrease in piracy."

Savio D'Souza, Secretary General, IMI, says that results of moves like 4 per cent VAT and special cell in Tamil Nadu has resulted in 809 raids since 2003 as compared to 219 in Punjab.

"There is also need to reduce the VAT from 12.5 per cent to 4 per cent for music products as in the case of Maharashtra and West Bengal. This will bridge the wide gap that exists between the prices of pirated music products and legitimate music products. We also want the government to set up a special audio video piracy cell in every district of the state headed by a senior police official. The cell would keep tab on the piracy acitivites and conduct raids."

Citing the example of the US, Lazarus said a 12 year girl was arrested for using pirated products.

He said, similarly, in India also there was a need to bring out such laws that acted as a deterrant to piracy. "Due to our active efforts, so far 150 convictions have taken place in India for piracy related cases."