KATHMANDU: The government has formed an inquiry committee to study disputes, complaints, and systemic issues related to music royalties, copyright, and intellectual property rights in Nepal.
The committee was formed under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation following concerns raised through the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
According to the ministry, the committee was formed through a ministerial decision on Thursday under Minister Khagendra Raj Poudel’s secretariat.
The five-member committee will be chaired by Laxman Bidari.
Other members include the Director General of the Department of Information and Broadcasting under the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Registrar Sabita Karki of the Copyright Registrar’s Office, and Subhadra Bhattarai from the Archaeology and Heritage Division of the Ministry.
Nirmala Neupane will serve as the member-secretary.
The committee has been mandated to submit its report with recommendations within 10 days.
Its mandate includes investigating issues such as copyright infringement, unauthorized use of music, and digital and physical violations affecting creators, artists, and rights holders.
It will also examine the effectiveness of royalty collection and distribution systems, including the functioning of collective management organizations and related institutions.
Additionally, the committee will review whether royalty distribution processes are transparent, evidence-based, and fair, and recommend necessary reforms.
The panel will further suggest policy, legal, and institutional improvements to support the growth of Nepal’s music industry, expand markets, and ensure the safe and transparent use of digital platforms.
It will also study royalty collection mechanisms across government bodies, public institutions, broadcasters, digital platforms, hotels, restaurants, transport services, and private sector users.
The committee is also tasked with reviewing copyright ownership and royalty-related issues concerning state-run media such as Radio Nepal and Nepal Television, and recommending improvements to regulatory structures and digital monitoring systems.
Officials said the committee will also suggest reforms to strengthen institutional capacity, improve digital tracking systems, and modernize copyright enforcement mechanisms.
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