Music Royalty Committee Nepal: Government Forms Team to Probe IP Gaps
23rd May 2026, Kathmandu
In a major move to protect the rights of musical artists, the Government of Nepal has officially formed a high-level, five-member inquiry committee to investigate systemic problems surrounding music royalties, copyright violations, and intellectual property (IP) rights.
Music Royalty Committee Nepal
The investigative team, formed under a ministerial decision by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) following directives from the Office of the Prime Minister, has been fast-tracked with a 10-day deadline to submit its final report and actionable recommendations.
The Core Objective: Protecting Nepalese Creators
For years, Nepalese musicians, lyricists, producers, and creators have voiced frustrations over unpaid dues and systemic gaps in digital distribution. This newly formed committee aims to audit the entire ecosystem, targeting core issues that have hindered the financial growth of the domestic entertainment industry.
The committee’s probe will heavily focus on four critical areas:
Copyright Infringement: Unauthorized duplication and commercial exploitation of musical works without legal licensing.
Unpaid Music Royalties: Auditing the current collection and distribution mechanisms to ensure artists receive their fair share from public and digital streaming venues.
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Illegal Digital Usage: The misuse of songs across digital landscapes and streaming platforms without proper rights holder authorization.
Systemic Gaps: Resolving ongoing disputes and complaints between creators, labels, and administrative bodies.
Leadership and Structure of the Five-Member Panel
The ministry has appointed Laxman Bidari ‘Shesh’ to lead the panel. The panel bridges multiple governmental bodies to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of intellectual property enforcement.
| Position | Member Name / Designation | Representing Body |
| Coordinator / Head | Laxman Bidari ‘Shesh’ | Appointed Expert |
| Member | Director-General | Department of Information and Broadcasting |
| Member | Registrar (Sabita Karki) | Nepal Copyright Registrar’s Office |
| Member | Section Chief (Subhadra Bhattarai) | Archaeology and Heritage Section, MoCTCA |
| Member Secretary | Nirmala Neupane (Undersecretary) | Culture Section, MoCTCA |
Why This Step Matters for Nepal’s Music Industry
The transition from physical media to digital streaming platforms (such as YouTube, Spotify, and TikTok) has drastically complicated IP enforcement in Nepal. While organizations like the Music Royalty Collection Society Nepal (MRCSN) have historically managed localized collections, enforcing digital licensing and digital rights management (DRM) has remained a challenging hurdle.
Industry Impact: This investigation could serve as the foundation for amending the decades-old Copyright Act of 2002 (2059 BS). A modernized legal framework is vital for tracking revenues from streaming algorithms, social media platforms, and telecom caller-ringback tones.
With only 10 days to draft and deliver its recommendations, the panel is expected to propose tight regulatory frameworks, modernized royalty collection guidelines, and quicker legal remedies for Nepalese creators whose livelihoods depend entirely on intellectual property safety.
For more: Music Royalty Committee Nepal
