Special Body To Collect Royalty Payments

A special body to collect royalty payments will be set up under the auspices of the Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry, the Dewan Rakyat was told Wednesday.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said however, it was still being studied by the ministry and the industry.

"I am aware of the dissatisfaction among artists over royalty payments collected by private limited companies, which had never been appointed to represent them," he said when responding to a question from Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff (PKR-Balik Pulau) when winding up debate on the royal address.

Ismail Sabri said the government planned to review royalty payments, which was fixed some 20 years ago, to suit the changing times.

"As we are amending the Copyright Act 1987, we will also review the royalty rate," he added.

He said royalty payments were fixed by the Public Performance Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PPM), the Music Authors Copyright Protection Berhad (MACP) and the Performers and Artistes Rights (M) Sdn Bhd (PRISM) after consulting the music users association.

Ismail Sabri said however, royalty imposed on entertainment centres was based on the size of the outlets and not on the numbers of chairs and tables they have.

"This is to differentiate and facilitate royalty claims between a big and a small entertainment centre.

"Music users, who are not happy with royalty claims, could complain to the copyright tribunal which was set up in 1999.

"However, to date no complaint was made and we will carry out an advocacy programme to create awareness about the role of the tribunal in ironing out disputes," he said, adding that the tribunal would be beefed up with the amendment to the Copyright Act. -Bernama