Event Coverage
WIPO working on new treaty for b’casters
MUMBAI: With new technologies like broadband emerging, the Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is developing a treaty, which will update the rights of broadcasters in a digital scenario.
WIPO has noted that broadcasters are facing an increase in costs for acquiring properties. An example is the rights for sporting events like cricket and the Olympics. TV advertising has slowed down in many markets. However, this phenomenon is yet to hit India. In this global environment subscription revenue has become the main source of income for broadcasters.
Speaking at Frames, WIPO Deputy DG Rita Hayes said, “A competitive broadcasting marketplace increasingly relies on diversified delivery modes and the ability to sub-licence owned programmes. Broadcast signals need to be traded on different platforms, be it cable or DTH.
“However very often broadcasters are not in a position to control how their signals are being distributed. A CASBAA study shows that signal theft is growing at the rate of 11 per cent a year. The acquired rights lose all value when signals of premium content like sports events are intercepted without payment and authorisation. The expected income from sub-licensing to other channels is reduced to nothing,” she said.
Hayes added that WIPO recognises that the time has come to anchor broadcast rights in an international regulatory framework. This will improve the performance of the broadcasting industry. She said all the creative industries would benefit from a level playing field. “Controlling signal piracy will legalise the content distribution market,” she explained.
With new technologies comes the threat of piracy. WIPO is assisting member states in strengthening their enforcement mechanisms through training activities for legal authorities and police. “However, many countries are not doing enough to improve enforcement,” said Hayes, adding, “It’s not surprising then that you find counterfeiting and piracy are big businesses in many countries.”
WIPO is working to convince policymakers in these countries that their economies and citizens will benefit in many ways if piracy is arrested. “We explain to countries that tolerating piracy will get them no respect from the world,” she said.
WIPO has several ways increasing awareness about piracy across the world. When Dr Kamal Idris became WIPO DG he launched an Intellectual Property demystification campaign. It means educating people that intellectual property is not an obscure legal concept but a daily occurrence in their lives.
Copyrights and patents make the world go round. The campaign also Highlights the importance of giving due regard to the creative industries. WIPO recently produced a mini-series on creativity called Creative Planet.
Hayes concluded by urging India to make the most of its experience with other countries. “Come to Geneva. Use the WIPO secretariat as a forum for dialogue where nations can meet the challenges we all face. India is a leader in the creative industries space,” she said.
Event Coverage
Anime India announces Amazon MX Player as co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata 2026
MUMBAI: Riding high on the success of its blockbuster Mumbai debut, Anime India is accelerating its nationwide expansion with the announcement of Amazon MX Player as the co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata. The partnership marks a significant step forward in the festival’s mission to deliver large-scale, accessible, and fan-first anime experiences across the country.
Scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026 at the iconic Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Anime India Kolkata will launch the first regional chapter of what is set to be a year-long, multi-city tour. As the curtain-raiser for the 2026 circuit, the Kolkata edition aims to fuse the energy of global Japanese pop culture with India’s fast-growing community of anime, manga, and pop-culture fans.
A household name in digital entertainment, Amazon MX Player brings unmatched reach and cultural relevance to the Anime India platform. With its expanding focus on anime and youth-driven content, Amazon MX Player’s involvement as co-presenting partner reinforces Anime India’s vision of making anime culture more inclusive breaking barriers of language, geography, and accessibility to connect with fans nationwide.
Anime India Kolkata 2026 will showcase cosplay competitions, interactive zones led by the Indian Gunpla Community, India-39 Vocaloid Community, The Japan Curry, and Adda-o-Otaku by The Otaku Guild. Fans can join tournaments across fighting games, Pokémon VGC, and more. Acclaimed Japanese director Susumu Mitsunaka (Haikyu!!) will attend as guest of honour, appearing in panels and live sessions. Positioned as an immersive celebration of fan culture and industry collaboration, the Kolkata edition marks the beginning of Anime India’s nationwide expansion.
Sharing their perspective on the partnership, Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani expressed, “Anime in India has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream cultural movement, driven by an increasingly engaged and passionate fanbase. At Amazon MX Player, our focus is on expanding access by bringing anime to audiences across the country for free and in multiple local languages. Our association with Anime India reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of anime in India and deepening connections with fans, while continuing to build Amazon MX Player as a trusted destination for free, high-quality entertainment.”
“Anime India Kolkata is a celebration of how anime has grown beyond entertainment into a powerful cultural and creative force. By bringing fans, creators, and industry leaders onto one shared platform, the festival is helping define the future of pop culture in India,” said Anime India co-founder and director Neha Mehta.
The debut edition of Anime India 2025 in Mumbai attracted over 29,000 fans, quickly cementing its status as a landmark celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture. Riding on this overwhelming response, the Kolkata chapter is projected to draw more than 40,000 visitors across two days, positioning it as one of the biggest anime conventions ever held in eastern India.
Anime India is focused on bringing together fans from across the country to create a truly pan-India celebration of anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese culture. With plans to expand into four key metropolitan hubs in 2026—east (Kolkata), north (Delhi), west (Mumbai), and south (Hyderabad)—the festival seeks to deliver globally benchmarked experiences while supporting and uplifting creators, artists, and fan communities throughout India.
