PPL India Wins Legal Battle Against Star Health for Sound Recording Rights
The Court granted ad-interim relief preventing further unauthorized use of PPL India’s repertoire
Mumbai: Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL India) has prevailed before the Bombay High Court in Phonographic Performance Limited v. Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited, securing an injunction restraining Star Health from publicly performing or communicating sound recordings assigned to and licensed by PPL India without valid authorization.
In its recent order in December 2025, the High Court recorded that Star Health, had previously procured public performance licence from PPL India for its previous events. The Court has observed that the earlier licence obtained by Star Health constitutes a prima facie admission of PPL India’s copyright ownership, and their act of not taking a license for the specific event amounts to infringement. Accordingly, the Court granted ad-interim relief preventing further unauthorized use of PPL India’s repertoire.
The Court accepted PPL India’s documentary and video evidence demonstrating the continued public communication of sound recordings at Star Health’s premises, despite the absence of a licence. The order confirms that, under the Copyright Act, 1957, PPL India retains the exclusive right to license the public performance of its sound recording repertoire and to restrain infringement where unauthorized communication to the public occurs.
This injunction forms part of PPL India’s sustained enforcement efforts against unlicensed commercial use of copyrighted sound recordings. Over recent months, PPL India has initiated legal proceedings and enforcement actions against several establishments, including Avadh Club, V-Mart, Espire Hospitality Limited, and Grand Arsh. Notably, in the contempt proceeding concerning Grand Arsh, the Bombay High Court has issued a bailable warrant against the proprietors for failure to comply with judicial directions, underscoring the seriousness with which continued infringement and contempt of court orders are regarded.
PPL India reiterates that establishments communicating copyrighted sound recordings to the public, via any mode and/or medium, must obtain a valid public performance licence prior to such usage. Any failure to do so constitutes infringement under the Copyright Act, 1957 and exposes infringers to civil and potential criminal liability.
