Well-Known Goan Folk Singer Flags Royalty Gap; Claims His 25-Year-Old Recordings Being Played On Cruise Boats in Violation of Copyright Norms

Well-Known Goan Folk Singer Flags Royalty Gap; Claims His 25-Year-Old Recordings Being Played On Cruise Boats in Violation of Copyright Norms

~ 80-year-old artist Hipolito Lopes calls for recognition of performers’ rights and urges younger musicians to play original music.

Panaji, May 2026 – In 2001, I had created an audio CD consisting of Goan folk dance songs such as Dekni, Kunbi/Vanauddi, Santan, Mauxi, Cotti, Fugdi, Corredinho and Marcha de Fontainhas, which was digitalised at Correia Recording Studio, Margao, in September that year.

Since 2008, recorded audio CDs of Goan folk dance songs and others, featuring my voice, are being played for commercial use on the Royal Cruise boat and Coral Queen Cruise boat to provide live entertainment to guests on payment of an entrance fee of Rs 500/-. At that time, no protection was extended to performers and singers under the Copyright Act, 1957. Only after the amendment to the Copyright Act, 1957 on 21/06/2012 were singers and performers granted economic benefits by the Government of India, with effect from 21/06/2012, by way of royalties, if songs featuring their voice are used commercially by users. It is also not economically viable for an individual to pursue legal action against infringers.

As a singer and performer, I have not earned a single penny to date by way of royalty. The recorded audio CD of traditional Goan songs and others has now completed 25 years of its musical existence, contributing to the preservation of Goan folk art.

I am an 80-year-old senior citizen. My humble advice to budding singers and dancers in Goa is to strive to bring out the best in their talent and uphold the name of Goa. The necessary and exemplary ‘mother touch’ cannot be achieved simply by adapting recorded music from predecessors. One should strive to be original to bring out the best in oneself.