Doubts over ‘effective’ implementation of Copyright Bill

Implementation of Copyright Bill in doubt

Minister at loss over intellectual matters

Minister says intellectual matters far from his understanding

Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 2

Concerned ministers and top ranking bureaucrats doubt over the effective implementation of the Copyright Bill, which is on the way to become a law. Endorsed by both houses of parliament, the bill is now waiting for the Royal accent.

“There is no respect for copyright and no laws to check it. However, an updated law will be introduced shortly,” said minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation Bal Bahadur KC inaugurating a workshop on copyright here on Thursday. “Making law is not a big deal but I have serious doubts over implementation,” he said. Speaking to the participants in the workshop jointly organised on the auspicious World Intellectual Property Day by his ministry and Nepal Copyright protection Society, KC said that although some features regarding copyright existed in 1965 act, it was never updated to make compatible with the international treaties. “Under these circumstances, we decided to draft a new and timely bill on the copyrights.”

The minister confessed intellectual matters were something far from his understanding and explained, “They gave me a written note to speak which I did not like at all. But as I couldn’t help myself, I am bound to read it.” State minister of the same ministry Sarba Dhan Rai noted that as Nepal was one of the member countries of World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) had to update the copyright laws compatible to international laws on the issue. “The new draft is very timely but it depends upon the practical effectiveness,” Rai said. Both ministers urged the writers-painters-artists and scientists to be aware of the laws made in their favour once the bill starts operating.

Bhanu Acharya, secretary at the ministry of industries, who played an important role to draft the copyright bill, said the bill had guaranteed the value of creative soft wares as equal as other industrial products. Acharya was one among many speakers to say that implementation part and level of professional honesty were the deciding factors of the success. Secretary at the ministry of law, justice and parliamentary affairs Uday Nepali Shrestha also pointed at the practical effectiveness as the real challenge to protect the copyright laws.

General secretary of Nepal Copyright Protection Society Santosh Sharma asked to bring out the law as soon as possible. “Copyright victims can not enter Singha Durbar and policymakers never go to the victims. Something sort of direct interaction is the need of the hour now.”