The Thimphu District Court today ordered three individuals to pay compensation ranging from Nu 100,000 to about Nu 400,000 in a copyright infringement case. The Samuh MediaTech filed the case after the three individuals shared and uploaded movies belonging to Samuh on different online platforms.
One of the defendants uploaded a movie, ‘Pot of Gold’, on YouTube last year. And the other two defendants shared and distributed another movie, ‘My Root Teacher’. Last week, the court ordered the company and the three defendants to negotiate and submit the compensation amount to the court.
The total loss incurred to the company from uploading the movie, Pot of Gold on YouTube was estimated at nearly Nu 1.5 M. However, the amount was negotiated at less than Nu 400,000.
The compensation amount from the two other defendants was estimated at more than Nu 1.3 M. However, they came to a consensus to pay Nu 100,000 each after negotiation.
The initial compensation was calculated as per the Copyright Act of Bhutan 2001.
The court ordered the defendants to pay the compensation before 3rd April. They can pay it in two instalments.
Sharing of copyrighted content is illegal as per the Copyright Act of Bhutan 2001. It states that the owner of any right protected under this act whose right has been infringed shall be entitled to the payment, by the infringer, of damages for the prejudice suffered by him or her or by it as a consequence of the act of the infringement, as well as the payment of his or its expenses caused by the infringement, including legal costs.
Kinley Dem/Tshering Zam
