The mushroom growth of compact disc (CD) shops in cities and rural markets reflects, on the positive side, how dearly the Bangladeshis love music. But it does also indicate, on the other side, the extent of acts of 'piracy'. That provides some good reasons for growing worries over the pirated CDs. In a situation where most songs in CDs are pirated ones, both the government and original composers (of such songs) are deprived of a significant amount of revenue and rightful honoraria, respectively. Such problems came again into a sharp focus at a seminar on protection of the intellectual property (IP) rights of the music industry, held in the capital city last week. The discussants there noted that despite widespread leakages, the government's annual revenue earnings from the music industry, coming through legal channels, amounted to Tk 2.5 billion. This amount, as the participants in the seminar observed, could be raised significantly by implementing the copyright law.
Surely, lack of implementation of the copyright law is depriving both the artistes and the government of income and revenue earnings respectively. About one million persons and establishments including singers, lyricists, musicians, producers, CD and cassette companies, marketers, wholesalers and retailers, employed in the music industry, are deprived of benefits. Full implementation of the copyright law would have benefited artistes while the government would also have earned more revenue.
There have been tremendous changes in the country's music industry during the last three decades. From an economic point of view, the industry is doing business like that of any large industry. It has the potential to contribute more to the country's overall performance, if it can be managed in a planned way. This is particularly so because music rings in the hearts of millions across Bangladesh -- in urban centres and rural hamlets. One can see people, young and old, men and women humming songs at workplaces and homes. If surveyed, folk songs will surely top the list of popular music in the country. Music is a major innovative medium.
Globalisation has a big impact on domestic industry. But piracy has been affecting the industry in a negative way. Several initiatives are, however, under way to update patent design law, enact a new geographical indications (GI) law, and law on layout design of Integrated Circuits (IC). The country needs to initiate norm-setting activities by organising seminars, workshops, and educational and training programmes in order to create mass awareness. It should also take measures on a priority basis to develop an IP office with logistics and seek international cooperation and support for the purpose. And, most importantly, it needs to develop local IP experts, academics, professionals and negotiators. Implementation of all these measures will go a long way towards ensuring the value of IP by extracting a price for its use by others. The price rewards the creators and encourages more innovations and faster growth. This ultimately benefits society and the country as a whole.
