The Indian Film Exporters Association (IFEA) has been renamed Entertainment Content Owners Association of India (ECOA). In its new avatar, ECOA embraces and extends its membership to all the entertainment content owners of all languages, genres and formats across all audiovisual platforms.
ECOA is also a prominent member of various important associations and apex bodies like FICCI and the Film Federation of India (FFI). The new website of ECOA is: http://www.ecoaindia.com/
The Indian Film Exporters Association was formed in 1963 by Lim Billimoria and a few other Indian film exporters to promote and facilitate the commerce of Indian films abroad. ECOA is symbolic of the changing times and acknowledges the meteoric growth of TV, OTT and digital platforms. Hence the body also wanted to bring them in its purview and expand its membership to these platforms too.
Since its inception, ECOA has been representing, safeguarding and promoting the overall well-being of its members who have been the entertainment content owners of India. It has been playing a major role in securing various legitimate content rights of the holder. The body also resolves disputes concerning encroachments, double sale of rights by the producers and copyright holders. ECOA will issue notices to TV channels, OTT, digital and other existing and upcoming platforms for infringement and violation of its members’ rights. ECOA has also been coordinating with state and Central governments, legislative authorities and other related departments for making representations for the reduction and revision in tariffs, taxation, levies, GST and other policy matters etc.
ECOA plans to soon approach the Information & Broadcasting ministry for appointing itself as an enlisted Association for content registration and other related activities. ECOA will regularly also publish Public Notice ads on its website, conveying trade acquisition of various contents and other rights disputes in the industry. It will disseminate trade-centric updated information and developments to its members on a regular basis. ECOA will also create B2B opportunities on its website and platforms for content owners to promote and monetise their content globally. The body will participate in key Film Markets and Festivals globally and represent the objectives of the body and the interest of the country’s Entertainment Content Owners.
Sushilkumar Agrawal is the president of ECOA. The other office-bearers are Hiren Gada (vice president), Ashok Jain (secretary) and R.K. Duggal (treasurer).