IPRS Hosts Landmark IP Dialogue with WIPO, Unites Global and Indian Creative Voices

by  EVENTFAQS Bureau Industry Watch | April 11, 2025 | News

Indian Performing Right Society World Intellectual Property Organization

In a significant step towards strengthening India’s creative economy, the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) hosted an exclusive roundtable with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Mumbai. The event marked the first official visit to India by WIPO’s Deputy Director General, Sylvie Forbin, and brought together leading voices from the Indian music and entertainment industries.

Chaired by renowned lyricist and IPRS Chairman Javed Akhtar, the closed-door session served as a platform to discuss the evolving role of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the age of artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

The roundtable featured a diverse group of participants including music composers, lyricists, screenwriters, publishers, music labels, legal experts, and industry leaders such as Rakesh Nigam (IPRS), Blaise Fernandes (IMI), Zaman Habib (Screenwriters Association), Salim Merchant, Kausar Munir, Vishal Dadlani, and many others.

Sylvie Forbin, Deputy Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization said, “The music industry has always been at the forefront of technological breakthrough. The music community has always shown resilience to overcome the challenges brought as well by technological advances. They have adapted in the best way by showing a strong alliance between them. I am impressed by India’s knowledge and assessment of what would be needed when it comes to the AI revolution and happy to go along with Indian creators to foster regulatory, business, and technological solutions to engage in this new era with the necessary tools and safeguards. Long life to Indian music!”

Javed Akhtar, Chairman, IPRS said, “This roundtable was not just about rights and royalties. It was about the recognition that creators are the backbone of every cultural narrative. Through this dialogue with WIPO, we aimed to elevate the discourse on fair pay, copyright enforcement, and future-ready frameworks—especially considering AI and digital transformation. IPRS remains committed to ensuring that every voice behind the music is heard, respected, and rewarded.”

Key Highlights from the Session:

IP as a Growth Driver: Strengthening IP laws was highlighted as key to nurturing innovation and sustaining India’s vibrant creative industries.

Global-Local Collaboration: Engagement with WIPO underscored the value of international partnerships and the exchange of best practices.

Preparing for the Future: Experts focused on the need for updated digital rights, ethical use of AI, and better metadata management.

Empowering CMOs: Strengthening and modernising Collective Management Organisations was recognised as critical for ensuring fair rights enforcement and royalty distribution.

Creators in Policy-Making: The event called for the formal inclusion of creators in national discussions around IP and digital policies.

Educating Creators and Consumers: Emphasis was placed on increasing awareness around copyright to reduce misuse and ensure fair practices.

Data Integrity & Royalties: The need for accurate metadata and crediting systems was highlighted to guarantee fair compensation for creators.

Youth & Innovation: The contributions of young artists and creative startups were celebrated as key to the future of India’s creative economy.

The roundtable was seen as a milestone in aligning India’s creative sector with global IP standards and encouraging a unified voice to support cultural and economic growth.