MUMBAI: South Indian Music Companies' Association (SIMCA) is making the right moves to make its presence felt in the furore surrounding the proposed amendments to the Indian Copyright Act.

Representing the South Indian music industry with 80 labels under its umbrella, SIMCA has made appointments at key positions in the organisation.

SIMCA has elevated long time member J Sridhar, who was joint secretary thus far, as secretary of the association. Chennai based music label Symphony recording company CEO Rajesh Dhupad has been appointed as joint secretary of SIMCA and Kerala based music label Sargaswara Audio Label CEO Haridas has been taken on board as joint secretary for the Kerala region.

SIMCA has been vocal about lack of representation in the copyright amendment panel and would be focusing on the issue with its new board. Dhupad says, We had dispatched a letter to the Copyright board about no representation but the chairman refused to acknowledge our existence citing SIMCA as a private body not formed by the government. We would be approaching the government and talk about getting leverage in the copyright process....

Ironically, the association mentions of an initiative flagged by SIMCA debating the copyright amendment in 2006. The event was attended by the then joint secretary of HRD ministry and then registrar from the government and now they are questioning our authenticity,... points Sridhar 

In the meantime, SIMCA board members plan to meet members of the Copyright panel in Mumbai. Sridhar reveals, There is an ambiguity on the formation of the copyright panel, as the government insists that the music industry has formed the panel on its own and the panel on the other hand insists being formed by the government. In any case, SIMCA which is a true representation of south Indian music industry has not been included in the panel. We intend to meet the panel and participate in the debate on copyright amendment front....

Send in your comments to: anita.iyer@indiantelevision.co.in