Audio companies play the copyrights music to show-organisers

You can't have 'em for a song anymore.

Uptil now, if you wanted to perform a film song abroad, well, you performed it. You got your act together, you went to the United States or Australia or wherever, and went ahead with the programme -- that was it!

But from now on, you will find it terribly hard on your wallet if you try organising shows like that.

The reason? Well, Indian producers (read audio recording companies) have decided they too need a piece of the foreign pie. Show organisers are making a hell of a lot of money performing their songs abroad, so isn't it only fair they get some of it as royalties?

Sure, it is -- and that's what they propose to do.

For a starter, several such producers have initiated steps in the US to enforce the US Copyrights Act, whereby any unauthorised duplication, reproduction, remixing, broadcasting or public performance of their film songs is prohibited. Rafa International of the United Arab Emirates, which holds copyrights for over 100 Malayalam films outside India, is one such determined company.

Thus, now on you can hold a show only after you get authorisation from the producers -- for which, naturally, you need to pay them fat royalties. Or else, you might end up in the US jail for 'criminal infringement'.

"The artistes, organisers and sponsors of 'unauthorised' music concerts would be individually and collectively liable if they violate the Act," says US-based lawyer Cherian G Varghese.

"There are hundreds of unauthorised duplicating companies in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas and California which are selling duplicate cassettes and CDs at cheaper rates. They cause huge financial losses to us," copyright holders say.

UNI