The Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) has been readmitted to International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (Cisac) as an associate member, after spending two years in exile. The readmission comes after a string of reforms carried out within IPRS, that that bring it in compliance with Cisac rules and best practices.
Cisac is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation, and is the world’s leading network of authors’ societies, with 239 members in 122 countries. It represents more than four million artists (from diverse fields such as music, audio-visual, drama, literature and visual arts) to protect their rights and promote their interests worldwide.
In 2016, IPRS had been expelled from Cisac after a compliance review had found a lack of compliance with Cisac rules. However, the expulsion has now been reversed, after Cisac’s board and general assembly found that significant reforms within IPRS have made it compliant with the Cisac rules. These reforms have been aided by Cisac, and include changes in corporate governance, transparency, licensing, collections and distribution of royalties.
Going forward, Cisac has also agreed to offer specialised support to aid further reformation within IPRS through its comprehensive Development Review. The reincarnation of IPRS has also been boosted by the Government of India’s support, along with its recent reregistration under the Indian Copyright Act. IPRS Chairman Javed Akhtar acknowledges the same in his statement:
“This homecoming is the occasion to acknowledge the decisive support received from the Government of India when all hope was lost as well as the unsparing assistance from and support of CISAC towards transparency and a compliant IPRS, for which the creative community will be forever grateful. Now we must look to the future. I want to assure all those who entrust their copyrights to the ‘new IPRS’, of our determination to become in the shortest possible time, a world-class Society, accurately tracking and monetizing all usage of their musical works in the country.”
Image from here.
Correction: IPRS has been readmitted as a full member, not associate.