IPRMENTLAW WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS (MARCH 16-23)

PARLIAMENT PANEL ASKS I&B MINISTRY TO INCLUDE ”FAIR-USE” CLAUSE IN CINEMATOGRAPH BILL

A parliamentary standing committee has noted that the amendments proposed in the Cinematograph Act, 1952, to check film piracy do not provide for “adequate safeguards” to the people who share film clip on various social media platforms as memes, jokes and for other non-commercial purposes. It noted that in the absence of the “fair use” provision in the Bill, there will be no protection to “someone who forwards a film clip/short extract of movies as memes, jokes etc., for non-commercial purposes.” The Bill seeks to deal with the menace of film piracy by introduction of stringent penal provisions for unauthorised cam-cording and digital duplication of films. It provides for handing down a maximum three years of imprisonment to the convicts of film piracy, and/or imposition of a maximum fine of Rs 10 lakh on them.

KARNI SENA DISRUPTS SHOOT OF ‘PRITHVIRAJ’

The Karni Sena has asked the producers of Prithviraj, an upcoming movie featuring Akshay Kumar, not to tamper with facts. Members of the outfit, led by its national president Mahipal Singh Makrana, staged a stir at the shooting of the film in Jamwaramgarh village, near Jaipur, and asked the director, Chandra Prakash, to stop the shooting. Prakash assured them that there was no tampering with historic facts in the film’s script. However, the Karni Sena demanded a written assurance.

THE PRODUCERS GUILD OF INDIA HAS SET UP A RELIEF FUND FOR DAILY WAGE EARNERS IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC

The Producers Guild of India has set up a Relief Fund for daily wage earners affected by the complete shutdown of film, television and OTT productions owing to the COVID-19 epidemic:

In light of the complete shutdown of all production-related activities for the foreseeable future due to the COVID-19 outbreak, there is bound to be a significant impact on the lives and livelihoods of daily wage earners in the industry. The Producers Guild has decided to set up a Relief Fund to help support those most affected by the shutdown. We would encourage the entire fraternity to contribute to the Fund, to ensure that we can do all we can to minimise the disruption in the lives of our valued colleagues and associates in this difficult time,” said The Producers Guild of India President Siddharth Roy Kapur in a press release.

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has decided to organise the distribution of ration and basic materials of daily needs for its needy members for a week from 22 Sunday March.

The federation has requested to all the producers, technicians and other film and television personalities to come forward and lend a hand in its fight against Coronavirus.

AIDCF INFORMS TRAI IT WILL PROVIDE DETAILED SUBMISSION FOR NTO 2.0 SOON

The All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) has submitted a letter to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), as per the judgement of the Kerala High Court, stating that it is collating information from member companies to make a detailed submission on the amended new tariff order (NTO 2.0), requesting TRAI not to take any further action.

AIDCF secretary general Manoj Chhangani said it has informed TRAI that the federation would be sending the detailed representation in the next two weeks.

The Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF) requested TRAI to defer the implementation of the amended tariff order (NTO 2.0) in view of the crisis created by Coronavirus. MCOF president Arvind Prabhu said that they are awaiting response from the regulatory body.

F.I.R. AGAINST KANIKA KAPOOR

Multiple FIRs lodged against Kanika Kapoor who had attended parties after returning from London and tested positive for coronavirus.

Kanika returned to India from the UK a few days back and straightaway went to Lucknow but did not get herself checked for coronavirus or undergo self-quarantine, as was told by the government to all travellers returning from abroad. Not only that, the singer also threw a party at the Taj Hotel in Lucknow, and attended a couple of other parties in the days following her return. The Taj Hotel was shut down today after Kanika tested positive for the virus. It is feared that she may have passed on the virus to other people at her party and the other parties she attended. The singer has been charged with deliberately spreading infection and also violation of section 144 by attending parties. UP government has invoked the provisions of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897.