IMPPA slams DPIIT’s AI copyright proposal: ‘This will destroy the film industry’

With Artificial Intelligence AI advancing rapidly it has led to increased conversations around protection of copyrighted material and personality rights Now Indian Motion Picture Producersrsquo Association IMPPA and the film industry at large find itself at crossroads On February 4 IMPPA shot a letter to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade DPIIT opposing its subsidiary Generative Artificial Intelligence and Copyright Committeersquos proposal of Hybrid Copyright Licensing Framework for AI TrainingAbhay SinhaAccording to the proposal AI developers mdash comprising individuals and corporate entities mdash would use ldquolawfully accessed copyrighted content for AI training as a matter of rightrdquo and the original copyright holders would get ldquofair compensationrdquo The ldquoflatrdquo compensation rate would be decided by the governmentappointed committee Copyright Royalties Collective for AI Training CRCAT Also the compensation will be given not at the training stage but only when the AI developer generates revenue from its content The paper was published on December 8 by the DPIIT which sought feedback from various fieldsNot on my watchIn its letter to DPIIT a copy of which is in middayrsquos possession IMPPA asserted that there is ldquowidespread concern within the film music and entertainment industryrdquo regarding the frameworkrsquos farreaching consequences The body which includes producers Karan Johar Rohit Shetty Ajay Devgn Salman Khan and many others shot down the proposal that opens the floodgates to use copyrighted materialAnil NagrathTalking to midday Abhay Sinha President IMPPA said that if implemented it will adversely affect Indian film producers ldquoThe government will take all decisions on its own They will take our films but we donrsquot know whether they will give us adequate money for it We make films worth 100 crore The film industry will incur huge losses All our producers are in disagreement with what the government wants to introducerdquoAnil Nagrath Secretary IMPPA revealed that the body sent its first letter on January 2 questioning why nobody was included in the committee and seeking an extension of the deadline He said that most bodies are fundamentally opposed to the plan adding ldquoHow can you allow anybody to modify my content on a blanket permission and pay me any sum you want Suppose somebody makes a modified film on Dhurandhar 2025 and sells it to anybody they want This will destroy the Indian film industryrdquoJoining the chorusNagrath added that small films will be even worse hit with this move He added that IMPPA has alerted producer bodies across the country ldquoWe have sent our letter to the film producers bodies in the various cities of India Indian Broadcasters Association and Producers Guild have also written letters to the DPIIT opposing the proposalrdquoWhatrsquos the proposalAI developers including individuals and corporate entities registered with Copyright Royalties Collective for AI Training CRCAT will use ldquolawfully accessed copyrighted content for AI training as a matter of rightrdquo The original copyright holders will get ldquofair compensationrdquo which will be a ldquoflatrdquo rate decided by the CRCATWhere will the content originate fromMore than 35 bodies come under the purview of the proposed policy It includes music bodies such as Indian Performing Rights Society IPRS and Indian Singers and Musicians Rights Association ISAMRA film bodies such as Producers Guild of India and bodies in the publishing sector like Federation of Indian Publishers FIP and Association of Publishers in IndiaHard no says IMPPAIn its February 4 letter Indian Motion Picture Producersrsquo Association IMPPA opposed the proposal It said that the approach is a ldquoserious encroachment upon established rights and a direct threat to the longterm stability and viability of the creative sectorrdquo