Cutting across party lines, the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) on Tuesday unanimously passed the Copyright Act (Amendment) Bill 2010. The bill designates the authors as the copyright owners which can't be assigned to producers contrary to the current practice, 'The Times of India' newspaper reported.

Indian Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal said the new law would help artists, whose royalties were cornered by producers, live a better life even in old age as they would continue to get their dues for their work.

The act makes it mandatory for radio and TV broadcasters to pay royalty to the owners of the copyright each time a work of art is broadcast. The amount of royalty will be decided by the Copyright Board rather than left to the whims of companies.

The act bans the bringing out of cover versions of any literary, dramatic or musical work within five years of their original recording.

Sibal said the bill adequately took care of the piracy issue. " We have embraced the wisdom of the standing committee in bringing about various provisions of this bill," the Minister said.

The bill has already been approved by Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of Parliament) and will become law once Indian President Pratibha Patil signs it.