New Delhi, November 22, 2019: The Indian Music Industry (IMI), in association with the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), organised a seminar on Digital Piracy yesterday on November 21, 2019. The objective of the seminar was to discuss pertinent issues relating to digital piracy including intermediary liabilities and preventive measures to effectively tackle digital piracy. The Keynote addresses were given by Mr. Narendra Sabharwal, Chair, FICCI IPR Committee and Former Deputy Director General, WIPO, and Mr. Lauri Rechardt, Chief Legal Officer, IFPI. Dr. David Price, Director of Consumer Insight and Analysis, IFPI, presented on the Music Listening and Piracy habits of consumers in India, in comparison to global trends. Ms. Jenny Wong, Asia Regional Director, IFPI discussed China’s “Sword Net Action” measures to deal with digital piracy and the implementation of similar administrative website-blocking measures in India. The first panel discussion on “Preventive Measures Now and Going Forward: The Best Possible Scenario” saw participation from different stakeholders in the music industry in India including Mr. Amarjit Singh Batra, Managing Director, Spotify India; Ms. Oindrila Maitra, Director (Legal and Business Affairs), Jio Saavn; Mr. David Price, Director, Consumer – Director of Insight and Analysis; Mr. Sanjay Tandon, CEO, ISRA; and Mr. Raju Singh, Board Member, Music Composers’ Association and IPRS. Moderated by Mr. Vipul Maheshwari, Co-Chair, FICCI IPR Committee, the key preventive measures identified by the panellists to prevent digital piracy included legislative frameworks that introduce stringent penalties and enforcement guidelines that discourage users from engaging with pirated sources to access music, educating users about the already available free music streaming channels, which also offer personalized user experience, as an alternate to pirated means of consuming music. The panellists concluded by emphasising on the need for collective effort from all stakeholders in the music industry to fight against digital piracy.
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