Move to kill piracy

CHENNAI: “Side-loading music onto mobile chips without valid licences is punishable and complaints will be lodged against violators,” says Padmashree Sudha Ragunathan, President, SIMCA (South India Music Companies Association) recently.In a statement issued to the media, she said, “The South India Digital Music Management Pvt Ltd, commonly known as SIDMM is an embodiment of passionate leaders from South Indian music industry who have made most of the exemplary contributions to music in various genres such as film songs, devotional, folk and classical songs.”She added, “The catalogue, hosted by SIDMM, comprises super hit songs from over three decades which include Five Star Audio, Star Music, Mass Audios, Lucky Audio and Agi Music (which controls considerable works of maestro Isaignani Illayaraja and many others).”“Music is not for free. The works of artistes are a result of unimaginable hard work put in by the creative community along with the investments by all the music companies. It seems, a few retailers, who deal with mobile handset sales and services, side-load music onto mobile chips for free to woocustomers. This particular strategy  is being used by them to compete in business.“As per the Copyright Act of 1957, use of music in any format for commercial gains is licensable, be it downloading from sites or transferring to mobile handsets. It is punishable under this act. Those who side-load music onto mobile chips are requested to obtain a Cell Muzik licence first from SIDMM authorised by SIMCA. This licence can be renewed on a yearly basis by paying a licence fee,” she claimed.Steps are being taken to streamline the downloading and streaming of songs from websites.