Mumbai: As year-end celebrations gather momentum across India, the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) has stepped up enforcement to ensure music creators’ rights are respected during Christmas and New Year events. IPRS, India’s only registered copyright society for composers, lyricists and music publishers, has initiated legal action against multiple hospitality entities for failing to obtain mandatory music licences.
In Bengaluru, IPRS moved the court against V&RO Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., which operates popular food and beverage outlets including Mirage, Badmaash, Hangover, Taki Taki, Holy Doh, Tycoons, Plan B, Café Noir and Nevermind. Acting on IPRS’s plea, the Hon’ble Court granted an ex-parte ad interim order of temporary injunction, restraining the company and those acting on its behalf from publicly performing or communicating IPRS’s repertoire, or that of its sister copyright societies, without authorisation.
Similar action followed in Delhi, where IPRS instituted proceedings before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court on December 23, 2025, against MJ Bizcrafts LLP, the operator of Privee nightclub at Shangri-La Hotel, New Delhi. By an order dated December 23, 2025, the court directed MJ Bizcrafts to deposit the requisite royalty amount with IPRS prior to hosting its New Year’s Eve celebration on December 31, 2025, failing which an injunction restraining the event would come into effect.
IPRS also secured relief from the Hon’ble Calcutta High Court on December 24, 2025, against Chocolate Hotels Private Limited, which manages Park Prime Hotel in Kolkata. The court restrained the company from organising any events involving the use of music without first obtaining a licence from IPRS.
With the festive season at its peak, IPRS reiterated that restaurants, bars, hotels, cafés and event organisers must ensure proper licensing before playing music at Christmas or New Year celebrations. The society emphasised that responsible celebrations go hand in hand with fairly recognising and rewarding the creators behind the music.
