No Royalty on Music/Songs Played on Marriage Occasions; Directs DPIIT

The Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade(DPIIT) has issued an important Public Notice on, where Royalty was charged by Copyright Societies for Music/Songs being played in Marriage Functions. The Department made it clear that no Royalty on Music/Songs played on Marriage Occasions and covered it under exclusions.

The Official Public Notice States as, “Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has received several complaints, representations, grievances from the general public as well as other stakeholders about alleged collection of royalties by the Copyright Societies for performance of musical work, communication to the public of sound recording etc. in marriage functions in contravention to letter and spirit of Section 52 (1) (za) of Copyright Act 1957.”

It is commonly known that Section 52 of the Copyright Act of 1957 lists specific activities that do not constitute an infringement of copyright.

Section 52 (1) (za) expressly states that the performance of a literary, dramatic, or musical work, or the communication to the public of such a work or a sound recording, during any bona fide religious ceremony or an official ceremony held by the Central Government, the State Government, or any local authority, does not constitute infringement of Copyright.

Religious Ceremony (for the purpose of the aforementioned clause) includes a marriage procession and other social festivities associated with marriage.

In light of the above, Copyright Societies are urged to firmly refrain from engaging in conduct that are in violation of Section 52 (1) (za) of the Copyright Act 1957 in order to avoid legal action. Furthermore, the general public is advised not to comply with any uncalled for requests from any individual/organization/copyright society that are in breach of Section 52 (1) (za) of the Copyright Act 1957.

For Official Public Notice Download PDF Given Below: