Delhi High Court Rules in Favour of PPL, Restricts Unauthorised Music Use at Geetanjali Salons

Delhi High Court Rules in Favour of PPL, Restricts Unauthorised Music Use at Geetanjali Salons

Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), the organization managing music performance rights in India, has successfully slapped a copyright infringement suit on the Geetanjali Salon chain. Justice Anish Dayal of the Delhi High Court issued an ex-parte ad interim order, temporarily restraining Geetanjali from playing any PPL-copyrighted songs across all its outlets.

The Court's decision came after PPL accused Geetanjali of playing music without obtaining the necessary licenses, specifically citing 25 salons where unauthorised music use was identified. PPL argued that this blatant disregard for copyright law constitutes infringement, causing them "irreparable harm" if left unchecked.

Justice Dayal agreed, recognising PPL's prima facie case and the potential for significant damage.

“Defendants, its directors, partners or proprietors, and any other person working for and on their behalf are restrained from exploitation/use of plaintiff’s copyrighted works in the repertoire available on plaintiff’s website https://www.pplindia.org/songs at any of its premises including but not limited to the list of outlets which have been made a part of documents of the present suit, which amounts to infringement of plaintiff’s copyright,” the Court ruled.

The court battle on behalf of Phonographic Performance Limited was led by Senior Advocate Chander M Lall along with the Khaitan & Co’s team that included Partner Ankur Sangal, Associate Raghu Vinayak Sinha, and Associate Shaurya Pandey.