MUMBAI: The Copyright Board ended the hearing for this year by announcing the next hearing for mid March 2010.

In the two day session, only three radio witnesses were cross examined. The radio industry believes the Copyright Board sessions were not fruitful and the royalty issue is not getting the attention it requires.

Today's session leaves five more radio witnesses to be cross examined as multiple radio broadcaster has two three witnesses on an average. Post the cross examination of the radio industry, eight music witnesses will be cross examined   

Confirms Association of Radio Operators for India (AROI) head Music Royalty Committee and Radio Mantra director Rahul Gupta says, The hearing for December has been disappointing as the cross examination of the radio industry has not been completed but the copyright sitting is over. There are too many witnesses left and the next hearing is lined up for March....

The radio industry had earlier approached the Information and Broadcast Ministry informing their non-participation in Phase III bidding unless the royalty issue and extension of license term period is approved.

The Copyright Board has been working on the royalty issue since May 2008 and no judgment has been passed in the last 18 months.