The high court in Delhi in July ordered Zee TV to stop using music in its programmes without obtaining permission from its lawful owners.
Citing a violation of the 1957 Copyright Act, the Indian Performing Rights Society (IPRS) and Phonographic Performance (PPL) took joint legal action against Zee Entertainment Enterprises (Zee TV) for using music, sound recordings and musical works without licence from the owners of the copyright. Zee TV is well-known for its talent show Saregama Challenge.
IPRS and PPL were represented by a team of lawyers – including Mukul Rohtagi, Pravin Anand, Ameet Dutta, Himanshu Bagai and Shrawan Chopra – who were able to obtain an interim injunction from the court.
The Copyright Act of 1957 stipulates that all users of music, including radio and television stations need to obtain a licence before using literary or musical works or sound recordings in a public performance, event or broadcast.
IPRS is affiliated to the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), the world industry body of performing rights in musical works, which represents 217 societies from 114 countries and indirectly represents more than 2.5 million creators of artistic repertories, music, drama, literature, audio-visual works and graphic and visual arts.
