Stop creating confusion over copyright issue: Shabana

May 19, 2012 IANS

Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) Veteran actress Shabana Azmi feels that people in the music fraternity are creating confusion over the share of profits earned by music directors and lyricists on their work, as proposed in the copyright amendment bill.

"Because of the copyright act, great musicians like O.P. Nayyar, who lived in bad conditions, in a bad house, will get a royalty. Many people (filmmakers) are trying to confuse the issue and are saying: 'If a film does not do well, will you deduct your fees'," said Shabana.

Shabana's husband and veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar has been successful at pushing for an amendment in the copyright laws to give music directors and lyricists a share of the profits earned on their work.

The amendment to the copyright act was passed by the Rajya Sabha Thursday and will now go to the Lok Sabha.

The actress clarified: "The royalty is not being demanded for the film. It is being demanded for the times the song will be exploited outside the film," she explained.