Javed Akhtar welcomes judgement on FM royalties for lyricists, musicians

The Indian Performing Right Society Limited and its members can now claim royalties in respect of the broadcast of lyrics and music underlying sound recordings by FM radio stations in India.

The Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) pronounced a judgement on December 31 upholding the rights of the Indian Performing Right Society Limited and its lyricist, music composers and music publisher members to claim royalties in respect of the broadcast of lyrics and music underlying sound recordings by FM radio stations in India.

The judgement recognises the rights of lyricists and music composers to claim royalties on the basis of the 2012 amendments to the Copyright Act, 1957. It also establishes separate royalty rates payable by radio broadcasting stations across India through 2021 in respect of sound recordings as well as literary works and musical works.

Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar, Chairman of IPRS, welcomed the judgement of the IPAB. He stated, “This landmark decision has applied the law by recognising the rights of creators like lyricists and music composers to an equal share of royalty from the utilisation of the lyrics and music in any form. This judgement will greatly benefit impoverished creators and their families as well as the entire creative community in India and internationally.”

Rakesh Nigam, CEO of IPRS, stated, “This judgement is a fundamental game-changer which will pave the way for IPRS to deliver greater benefits to the creative community in India. The team at IPRS is immensely gratified by the judgement and we are tremendously proud that IPRS was the only registered Copyright society representing the interest of authors and composers and music publishers before the honourable IPAB.”