First Owner of Copyright in Film Music: Delhi HC in Saregama v Ilaiyaraja
Section 17(b) and 17(c) of the Copyright Act, 1957 was applied by the Delhi High Court to treat the producer as the first owner of copyright in film…
Sound recordings
8 articles
Offbeat and Out of Tune: Copyright’s Missing Rhythm in Indian Music
World IP Day and the Best of IP in Music With WIPO’s call to “Feel the Beat of IP” World IP Day 2025 brings music and creativity to…
Authors, Copyright and Royalty Share : The Calcutta High Court gives clarity
The Calcutta High Court has clarified the scope of authors' royalty rights under Indian copyright law, affirming protections introduced by the 2012 amendment. The judgment ensures that authors…
Are you playing it Safe? Court encourages settlement in a music licensing case.
The Delhi High Court encouraged settlement in a dispute between PPL and Neb Sports over alleged unlicensed public performance of sound recordings at sporting events. The case highlights…
Music Licensing Business By PPL & Novex is Valid Though They Are Not Copyright Societies
The Bombay High Court held that PPL and Novex may validly license sound recordings even though they are not registered copyright societies. Section 33 does not restrict copyright…
Version Recordings & Cover Versions – Part IV: Notes on Copyright Amendment, 2012
This post examines the Copyright Amendment, 2012, particularly the statutory licensing regime for cover versions under Section 31C. It discusses the legal requirements for making version recordings and…
Matrubhumi Printing and Publishing Ltd v. IPRS
The Kerala High Court clarified that producers, not composers, own the copyright in sound recordings used in films, unless a contract states otherwise. Matrubhumi and Malayalam Manorama were…
Royalty Rights in Sound Recordings, Lyrics & Musical Works – Part 1
This article examines the complex structure of royalty rights in sound recordings, lyrics, and musical works under Indian law. It discusses copyright ownership, licensing, and the roles of…