With online platforms dominating the content circulation around
the world, the ambit of protection granted to such platforms
becomes an essential issue. This debate was only divided by
opinions of various lawyers and scholars, however, the issue got
controversial when Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion,
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Government of India) issued an
Office Memorandum dated September 05, 2016 stating that
following:
"In view of the above, the words "any broadcasting
organization desirous of communicating to the public.." may
not restrictively interpreted to be covering only radio and TV
broadcasting as definition of 'broadcast' read with
'communication to the public' appears to be including all
kind of broadcast including internet broadcasting. Thus, the
provisions of Section 31D are not restricted to radio and
television broadcasting organizations only, but cover internet
broadcasting organizations also."