Hotels can play music for season’s parties without paying royalty

Hotels in Mumbai, Pune and Goa planning to host Christmas and New Year parties got some relief from the court on Thursday.

Hotels in Mumbai, Pune and Goa planning to host Christmas and New Year parties got some relief from the court on Thursday.

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The Bombay High Court has ruled that hotels can play music without paying royalty to Phonographic Performances Limited (PPL).

Vacation judge, Justice K.K. Tated, refused to grant interim relief to PPL — a copyrights society in respect of sound recordings — while hearing its petition which alleged that hotels that have Christmas and New Year parties infringe on copyrights of PPL members by playing their music without permission.

PPL had sought that the hotels be restrained from playing such music and sound recordings of its members in their events and shows without obtaining a prior license from PPL.

PPL had named 17 hotels including JW Marriott, Taj Lands End, Marine Centre, Leela Kempenski and Gallops Banquet Hall as respondents.

PPL’s petition contended that hotels make huge profits by playing their clients’ music during these parties without paying royalties.

The PPL claimed this amounted to infringement of copyrights of their clients.