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Shaking a leg or listening to music at a star hotel or pub across the country on New Year's eve could prove to be a problem.
In an effort to curb the menace of copyright music being played without licence, the Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) claims to have sent legal notices to venues that have not paid the requisite fee to play music at year-end events.
“This year, about 5,000 notices have been sent all over the country including about a 1,000 to venues in South India,” Mr Sowmya Chowdhury, Country Head PPL, told Business Line . PPL claims that among the defaulters are Pondicherry Ashok, Dee Cee Manor, Heritage Inn and Spring Hotel all in South India, against whom injunction orders have been issued by the Madras High Court.
Fee, penalty
Hotels and pubs who wish to play copyright music need to pay a fee which is calculated on the basis of the number of hours they want to play the music and the number of people expected to attend the event. PPL claims that playing copyright music without its permission is liable to contempt of court under section 35 of the Indian Copyright Act. It also claims that non-payment of fee could lead to up to three years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 2 lakh.
According to PPL, the campaign against playing copyright music without a requisite licence seems to be having the desired affect. The apex licencing arm of the Indian music industry, claims that in the decade since it has been carrying out the campaign, it has collected crores of rupees through licence fees and fines. “Eighty five per cent of the money which is collected is passed on to the various companies. About 15 per cent of what is collected is used for our administrative functions,” Mr Chowdhury said.
PPL was formulated to administer the broadcast, telecast and public performance rights of its member companies. At present, it has over 250 members.
Member companies have assigned their performing rights in sound recordings to PPL by virtue of which it is the designated authority to issue Public Performance Licenses all over India, and also ensure fair payment of tariff to all the recording companies.
This includes the communication of music to the public in any form.
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