Veteran Goan folk singer highlights royalty disparity and copyright violations

Goa Khabar : Renowned 80-year-old Goan folk singer Hipolito Lopes has raised serious concerns regarding the violation of performers’ rights, claiming that his 25-year-old recordings are being used commercially on cruise boats without any royalty payments. The veteran artist, who has dedicated decades to preserving Goan culture, expressed his disappointment over the lack of financial recognition for his contributions to the state’s musical heritage.

In 2001, Lopes produced an audio CD featuring traditional Goan folk dance songs such as Dekni, Kunbi, Fugdi, and Corredinho, which was digitized at a studio in Margao. According to the singer, these recordings have been played for commercial entertainment on boats like the Royal Cruise and Coral Queen since 2008. While guests pay an entrance fee for these cruises, Lopes asserts that he has not earned any royalty to date, despite the songs featuring his voice being a central part of the entertainment provided.

The veteran singer pointed out that while the Copyright Act of 1957 initially offered limited protection to performers, a landmark amendment in June 2012 granted singers and performers the right to economic benefits and royalties for the commercial use of their work. However, Lopes noted that for individual artists, especially senior citizens, it is often not economically viable to pursue legal action against large entities that infringe upon these rights.

Beyond his personal grievance, Hipolito Lopes shared a message for the next generation of Goan artists. He urged budding singers and dancers to move away from simply adapting recorded music from the past and instead strive for originality. He emphasized that the authentic ‘mother touch’ in art can only be achieved through genuine effort and talent. By creating original work, he believes young musicians can best uphold the name of Goa and ensure its folk traditions remain vibrant and evolving.