Copyright Law Vs Playing songs in Marriages

Copyright Law – No royalty for playing songs in marriages – Salutary public notice dated 24.7.2023 of the Government of India in the Department of Promotion Industry and Internal Trade.  It may be first of its kind that a provision of law is clarified by the Government and also advisory to the copyright society not to act in contravention of Section 52(1)(za) of the Copyright Act 1957 and also cautioned the general public not to accede to uncalled demands on that count.

Section 52(1)(za) of the Copyright Act, 1957, is an exception to the copyright to musical work.   It is provided that performance of musical work in religious ceremony does not constitute infringement of copyright.  It is clarified that “religious ceremony” includes “a marriage process or other social festivities associated with marriage.”