This may sound difficult given that commercial places in India
have taken right to play the music as their inherent one. Situation
may change soon after two recent judgements of Hon'ble Delhi
HC.
First one was delivered by JUSTICE S. MURALIDHAR on August 12,
2016 and
second one was delivered by JUSTICE V. KAMESWAR RAO on
September 30, 2016. Interestingly in both the cases, Indian
Singers' Rights Association (ISRA) was involved as plaintiff.
In both the decisions, applicant court gave decision in favour of
plaintiff and asked defendant to pay royalties to the
plaintiff.
Basic information on ISRA, laws relating performance rights have
been discussed below:
ISRA is the first Copyright Society to be registered by the
Central Government after the 2012 amendments to the Copyright Act.
According to its official
website, M/s. Lata Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar, Suresh Wadkar,
Gurdaas Mann, Pankaj Udhas, Alka Yagnik, Kumar Sanu, Abhijeet
Bhattacharya, Sonu Nigam & Sanjay
