<strong> May 14: </strong> To curb the growing menace of music piracy, the IMI ( Indian Music Industry) launched MMX (Music Mobile Exchange), a music licensing initiative to legalize the downloading of music content on mobile phone chips.

According to IMI Secretary General Savio D'Souza, “There is a huge demand for music for mobile phones and we have even seen people advertising download offers, which is illegal. We are offering a legal way for shopkeepers to make money from the increasing demand for music content on mobile chips.”

Considering a huge demand for music on mobile phone chips, this recent initiative of MMX by IMI hopes to prove a profitable venture for the Indian Music Industry.

“Mobile phones and chips are growing at a phenomenal pace and India should have the largest base of mobile phone users in the next few years. Each of these users requires music on their phones. The shopkeepers are currently offering these services illegally and making million of rupees."

Due to an increasing trend of mobile chip piracy in the country, IMI had been incurring heavy losses approximately to the tune of Rs. 300 crore every year, revealed an IMI source.

Under the Music Mobile Exchange programme, a shopkeeper can now easily purchase a license by paying anything between Rs. 1,500 to 5,000 per month or per computer.

Seven music companies have already become members of MMX. These include Sony, Saregama, Universal, Tips, Venus, EMI and Aditya Music.

“The seven major members of the music industry have offered a legitimate partnership opportunity for these shopkeepers. We hope a number of shopkeepers will partner with the music industry and obtain the license. In case these shopkeepers do not obtain the licenses, anti-piracy action will continue unabated,” quotted D’Souza.