Interview with Emma House, The Publishers Association

Recently, I met with Ms. Emma House, Director of Publisher Relations, The Publishers Association Limited at the British High Commission New Delhi. Over tea, we chatted about the publishing industry, intellectual property (particularly copyright) and upcoming events! 

What brings you to India?

I am visiting publishers in India, both the Indian office of our UK Publishers Association (PA) members and domestic publishers. I have been speaking at various publishing events including the Delhi World Book Fair, GlobaLocal and an event for the Indian Reprographic Rights Organisation. I also manage our anti-piracy campaigns in India, so I have been meeting with our legal counsel and enforcement team. And of course, meeting Vijay Iyer at the High Commission!

Tells us about your ongoing engagement with India?

My role is to help promote the publishing sector in India and also engage in policy and legislative discussions that will help the industry overcome challenges and continue to grow in India. Promoting the role of publishers and value that publishing brings to the social and economic well-being of India is crucial, and engaging in discussions and activities that will provide a secure market environment for publishers to operate in is vital.

What are the top three challenges of the publishing industry worldwide?

Threats to the copyright regime which have the potential to seriously damage the publishing industry if exceptions become too broad; the general lack of public awareness of copyright and the expectation that everything on the internet should be free; and the matter of competition for leisure time – gaming, TV, Film all competing with reading.

What is PA doing to increase awareness of copyright issues?

There are two audiences we wish to increase awareness of copyright issues in; one is the policy makers, to convey that the value of the copyright regime to the publishing industry is extremely important – both to have legislation and enforce it. We work closely with our Indian counterparts and colleagues on events and awareness raising activities and discuss the importance of copyright with government officials. A key message we are promoting is the licensing regime which is a balance between providing access to copyrighted materials and providing a return to rights-holders. Secondly, it’s the general public. Winning hearts and minds and explaining the value of copyright to the general public is a much harder task. We hope to start working as an industry in our own right but also with other creative industries which face similar issues, on a public awareness campaign.

Any upcoming events we shouldn’t miss out on?

There’s the London Book Fair in London in April. September is the next big month for publishing events in India – The Delhi Book Fair and Publishing Next Conference in Goa.