Report by the Secretariat (WT/TPR/S/249): III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE: (3) Measures Directly Affecting Exports:(4) Measures Affecting Production and Trade: (vi) Intellectual property rights: Page 119, paragraph 278:
The Secretariat's Report states: "[T]he Copyright (Amendment) bill 2010 proposing amendments to the Copyright Act 1957 is being discussed in Parliament." On August 12, 2011, press reports indicated that the Cabinet had approved changes to the proposed bill. What are the key issues in the cabinet-approved version of the bill, and the expected timeline for legislative consideration and passage? On a related legislative note, what is the status of India's draft optical disc law and India's efforts to combat optical disc piracy?
Reply: The Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2010 pending in Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of Parliament) since it was introduced on 19 April 2010. The Bill is available at www.copyright.gov.in. The details of amendments to the Bill will only be made available after both the Houses of Parliament consider the same.
U.S. Follow-Up Question: India's response failed to address optical disc piracy. Please also explain the status of India's draft optical disc law and India's efforts to combat optical disc piracy.
Reply: There is no draft optical disc law. The existing enforcement provisions in the Copyright Act are being followed to combat optical disc piracy.
