Mumbai: India’s film, television, and online video services industries contribute a gross output of INR 349 thousand crores and employ 2.6 million people. The media and entertainment sector grew at a higher rate than the economy (7.8%) in 2019. India has consistently improved its ranking on the WIPO Global Innovation Index (46th in 2021 from 52nd in 2019). Creative industries not only entertain and create employment opportunities but also help promote India’s creative and cultural industries across the world. The creative sector has the potential to build innovative and new experiences and reflect India’s soft power. Therefore, creating intellectual property awareness among the youth of the country becomes imperative.
Creative First has launched a campaign Your IP Your Future in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and the Producers Guild of India and Knowledge Partners: International Legal Alliance (ILA) and IPTSE Academy to create awareness about the importance of copyright as intellectual property in the media and entertainment industry. The campaign targets independent creatives, content producers, independent studios, and media and entertainment enthusiasts to help them understand the business of media and entertainment and protect their Intellectual Property Rights (IP rights). The campaign features resource materials and conversations with industry and legal experts such as Siddharth Roy Kapur – Founder and Managing Director, Roy Kapur Films, Vivek Krishnani – Managing Director, Sony Pictures Films India, Anjum Rajabali – veteran screenwriter, Shibasish Sarkar – Group CEO, Reliance Entertainment, Jamshed Mistry, Founder of the International Legal Alliance – a virtual global network of lawyers, Tara Deshpande – actor and author, and National Award-winning actress Divya Dutta among others. Every month, we will introduce new discussions with eminent names from the Indian media and entertainment industry that are expected to lend their weight to this first-of-its-kind initiative.
Arun Chawla, Director General, FICCI said, “Across the world, and in India in particular, small, and medium businesses are thriving and driving innovation. But creativity needs to be protected which is where ‘Your IP Your Future’ comes in. Intellectual property law is crucial for the media and entertainment industry. It plays an important role in copyright and trademarking the thinking and writing of the creative society. In today’s digital age, the communication of online content has increased due to which piracy and copyright disputes are rising. There is a need to control its misuse and secure the work of writers and artists.”
Nitin Tej Ahuja, CEO, Producers Guild of India, said, “The legal sanctity of IP – and more particularly, copyright in the case of content producers is the very foundation on which our business is built. A thorough and updated understanding of the ever-evolving nuances of the various facets of IP is therefore critical to anyone involved or aspiring to be involved, in the entertainment business. Your IP Your Future is a very valuable and comprehensive resource towards that end.”
Jamshed Mistry, Founder, International Legal Alliance (ILA), said, “Quite often than not a creative person’s only asset is his IPR!! It is in the best interest of all concerned in the industry to educate themselves on IPR!! Creative First is the perfect platform to create this awareness!! – Unsuited.”
Sourabh Sachdeva, Director, IPTSE Academy, said, “India has emerged as the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the world, after the US and China. But without strong IPR protection, creators won’t be able to reap the rewards of their hard work.”
