The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ‘Licence must to play music recordings’

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Thursday, Feb 14, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Licence must to play music recordings’

Staff Reporter

IMI to target lounge bars, pubs, discos

PHOTO: P.V. SIVAKUMAR

MAKING A POINT: Former Punjab DGP Julio Ribeiro at a seminar at the AP Police Academy in Hyderabad on Wednesday. C.N. Gopinath Reddy, Director, APPA, is also seen.

HYDERABAD: It’s a relatively new concept and some may find it a wee bit hard to digest. However, the Indian Music Industry (IMI), consortium of over 75 Indian music companies, makes it clear that it’s mandatory to obtain a public performance licence from them to play recordings anywhere, anyplace.

In this connection, the IMI would be targeting lounge bars, pubs, discotheques, hotels, auditoriums, restaurants and even events to coerce them into taking licence for broadcasting content during business hours. If necessary, IMI will also take police help to implement the mandatory rule in the twin cities and elsewhere in the State.

The IMI in association with the Andhra Pradesh Police Academy (APPA) on Wednesday organised a training programme for police officers at APPA to make them aware of the importance of Intellectual Property Rights.

The Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) and Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) formed by IMI are registered under Indian Copyright 1957 and approved by Union Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Losing 100 crore

Annually, IMA claims to be losing Rs. 100 crore in the State and this has ‘fuelled’ the need to regulate the market, which, hitherto, was unchecked.

Lack of awareness on the subject has led to this situation, IMI officials pointed out. “In foreign countries, commercial establishments volunteer to license music. However, in India it doesn’t happen. In the first phase, we try to spread awareness and if that doesn’t happen, then we take the legal recourse with the help of police,” pointed out Consultant to IMI and former Punjab DGP Julio Ribeiro. APPA Director C.N. Gopinath Reddy informed that in future police would be playing active role in ensuring strict regulation of public broadcasting in commercial establishments.

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