"Managing And Protecting Creators Rights Is Crucial In The Digital Era"-Priya Saraiya Singer and IPRS Committee member

Digitalisation has led to new opportunities in the music industry, with music creators discovering new avenues to create, collaborate, promote, and monetise their content. Given the growing number of songs and musical works released, it becomes vital for creators to understand the significance of Intellectual Property and the associated rights, which benefits authors, composers, and rightful owners of these creations. IP refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols, names, and designs, used in commerce. Intellectual property rights are legal rights that allow creators or owners of these works to control how their creations are used, and prevent others from using them without permission.

Priya Saraiya has been active in the music world for over a decade and has established herself as a successful playback singer, composer, and lyricist. Priya's journey in the music industry is inspiring for many young aspiring artists who want to make it big in the industry. As a creative person, one must understand the importance of managing and protecting the rights of their creation in this digital era. In a recent interview, she shared her thoughts on the matter.

In a Freewheeling Chat with Loudest,She talks about Promoting Music Creator Rights.Here are edited excerpts:

How important is it to manage and protect creators’ rights in this digital era?

Managing and protecting creators' rights is crucial in the digital era, where the ease of copying, distributing, and sharing content has increased exponentially. With the rise of the internet and digital technologies, the ability to share creative works has become easier than ever before. While this can be beneficial for creators to reach a wider audience, it can also put their rights at risk.

Creators' rights are fundamental to the creative process, and they ensure that creators receive recognition, compensation, and control over their work. These rights include the right to control the use of their works, the right to receive payment for the use of their works, and the right to prevent others from using their works without permission.

In the digital era, it is important to manage and protect these rights to ensure that creators can continue creating new and innovative works. This requires the development and implementation of laws and regulations that protect creators' rights and encourage the proper use of creative works. It also requires the use of technology to help identify and prevent unauthorized use of works and to help creators enforce their rights.

Today it has become extremely crucial to manage and protect the creators' rights to ensure that authors and composers can continue creating the music we love while receiving the recognition, compensation, and control they deserve.

How was your experience in music and creating IPs that are benefiting you as a music creator?

My experience in the industry has been both exciting and rewarding. I've had the privilege to work on a wide range of projects throughout the years, partnering with some of the industry's most creative musicians and artists. It’s encouraging to know that the music I create is valuable Intellectual Property, and I have my rights as an original creator of the content I create. My original creation has helped me establish my signature style and form of expression. I’m thankful for the recognition I have received for my work. Creativity and Innovation go hand in hand, and I think a fresh take and newness in your work keeps you relevant over a long period. 

What is your understanding of the IP Laws in your profession?

I am aware of the significance of Intellectual Property (IP) legislation. These rules are critical for preserving creators' rights and guaranteeing fair compensation for their work. Music, films, books, and software are all protected by intellectual property regulations. They give legal protection for creative works created by authors, prohibiting others from exploiting, copying, or distributing their work without permission. However, striking a balance between safeguarding artists' rights and expanding access to information and culture is critical. As a result, many intellectual property laws include provisions for fair use and exceptions for educational, scientific, and cultural reasons. As a creator, I’m glad that there are strong IP laws and copyright bodies to ensure my work is appropriately recognised, acknowledged, and safeguarded. I believe it is our responsibility as creators to have a fair understanding of IP rights, and to get the best returns from the music we make. Music copyright societies like IPRS in India represent the lyricists, composers, and publishers of music, safeguarding their right to royalty. 

Priya is also a member of the IPRS ARA Regional Committee and is the representative of the Women Wing in the West zone. The Ad-hoc Regional Advisory Committee represents the interests of music creators and publishers at the regional level. As a member, she has been actively involved in promoting the rights of creators and supporting the community through extensive member engagement and outreach programmes.

What are your thoughts about being a part of the IPRS ARA Committee and whether it brings a different perspective on the table being a woman?

Being a part of the IPRS ARA Committee as the representative of the Women Wing has been a great honor and a wonderful experience. The underrepresentation of women in music is a longstanding issue that has persisted in the industry for decades. Despite the contributions of countless talented female lyricists, composers, producers, and independent artists, women continue to be underrepresented in many areas of the music industry, from creation, and production to executive positions in the industry. This lack of representation not only perpetuates gender inequality but also limits the diversity of voices and perspectives that are heard in music. While progress has been made in recent years, there is still much work to be done to ensure that women have equal opportunities to succeed in the music industry.

The Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) has taken several initiatives to promote the representation of women in the music industry and the launch of the Women Wing in the regional committees earlier this year, is a step in that direction. IPRS launched the HERMUSIC campaign in 2020 to build awareness, drive conversation and work towards creating a more gender-balanced music ecosystem. The organization also hosts seminars and workshops focused on addressing issues related to gender inequality and opportunity differences.