Novex Communications secures public performance rights for Saregama’s extensive music catalogue
Novex Communications has secured the public performance rights for Saregama’s extensive music catalogue. This partnership allows event organizers, hotels, restaurants, and other public venues to obtain the necessary licenses from Novex to legally play Saregama’s music. The collaboration aims to streamline the licensing process and ensure fair compensation for artists and rights holders.
PPL enjoys on ground public performance rights for Saregama repertoire until 5th July, 2025.
Read our detailed post on this here
Sony Music Drags Myntra To Bombay HC Over Unauthorized Use Of Music In Its Promotional Materials
Sony Music has approached the Bombay High Court against Myntra for alleged unauthorized use of its copyrighted sound recordings in promotional materials. At the interim hearing on April 9, 2025, Myntra undertook to take down the listed songs within 24 hours and refrain from further use until the interim application is decided. The Court recorded the undertaking and scheduled the next hearing for June 30, 2025. Read order here and our post here.
Comedian Kunal Kamra moves Bombay High Court challenging FIR filed against him over parody video
Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has approached the Bombay High Court seeking to quash a First Information Report (FIR) filed against him by the Mumbai Police. The FIR pertains to a parody song performed by Kamra, which allegedly referred to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a “traitor” during one of his shows.
Kamra’s petition argues that the FIR infringes upon his fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution. He contends that the case is politically motivated and malicious, challenging the legality and propriety of the FIR.
Read more about it here.
Bombay High Court to review appeal against ban on release of ‘Shaadi Ke director Karan Aur Johar’
The Bombay High Court has agreed to hear an appeal challenging a previous order that restrained the release of the film Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar. The original order, issued on June 13, 2024, imposed a stay on the film’s release and promotional materials, citing a strong prima facie case that the filmmakers had unauthorizedly used filmmaker Karan Johar’s name and personality. On March 7, 2025, a single judge refused to lift the stay, noting that the film’s title and content prima facie violated Johar’s personality rights, publicity rights, and right to privacy. The appeal, filed by co-producer Sanjay Singh, will be heard by a division bench on April 15, 2025.
Read more about it here.
BGMI developer Krafton faces allegations of selling user data via Telegram
Krafton, the maker of the popular mobile game Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), is under scrutiny following allegations that it has sold user data through Telegram for INR 2,000 per individual. The complaint, filed by Santosh Torane, claims that personal information of BGMI users was being distributed without consent on the messaging platform. In response, Krafton has denied the allegations. The Bombay High Court has taken up the case, with the next hearing scheduled for April 15, 2025.
Read more about it here.
Maharashtra moves towards licensing framework for online gaming platforms
The Maharashtra government is set to introduce a licensing system to regulate the online gaming industry. This has been announced by Minister of State for Home Affairs Yogesh Kadam, the move aims to tackle rising cases of cybercrime and financial fraud linked to gaming platforms. The framework is being developed in coordination with the IT, Revenue, and Home departments, and may include mandatory licensing, consumer safeguards, and a proposed 25% tax on gaming revenue. With this step, Maharashtra joins a growing number of states looking to formalize and oversee the online gaming space.
Read more about it here.
Bombay High Court issues John Doe order in Unilever’s trademark case to curb counterfeit dental products
The Bombay High Court has granted ex-parte ad-interim relief to Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) in a John Doe action, restraining unknown parties from manufacturing, marketing, selling, or distributing counterfeit and contraband Close-Up and Pepsodent products. Justice Manish Pitale observed that HUL had made a strong prima facie case, noting that counterfeit goods were openly sold in Indore and Ranchi, and genuine products manufactured in Nepal were being illegally brought into India and mixed with counterfeits. The court appointed a court receiver to prepare separate inventories for counterfeit and contraband products, directing that the impugned goods be brought to HUL’s premises and kept sealed for future reference.
Read more about it here.
Delhi High Court directs Dabur to provide evidence for fluoride claims in advertisement dispute with Colgate
The Delhi High Court has directed Dabur India Ltd. to provide scientific evidence supporting its advertisement claims that fluoride in toothpaste can cause health issues such as reduced IQ in children, brittle bones, and dental spotting. This order follows a plea from Colgate-Palmolive, which argued that Dabur’s ad, featuring the tagline “Does your favourite toothpaste have fluoride?” indirectly targeted Colgate’s fluoride-based products and misled consumers. While Dabur agreed to remove the word “favourite” from the advertisement, it maintains that its campaign aims to inform consumers about potential risks associated with fluoride, citing selected studies. The court has scheduled the next hearing for May 27, 2025.
Read more about it here.
Release of ‘Phule’ postponed after CBFC requests removal of caste references
The release of the film Phule, a biographical drama about social reformers Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule, has been postponed from April 11 to April 25, 2025. The delay follows the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) instructing the filmmakers to remove certain caste-related terminology and references to Manu, which were contested by Brahmin groups who claimed the film portrayed Brahmins in a negative light.
Read more about it here.
Meta flags concerns over DPDP Act’s impact on minor profiling and data transfer limits.
Meta has voiced significant concerns regarding India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, focusing on provisions that restrict profiling and behavioural tracking of individuals under 18, mandate verifiable parental consent, and potentially require data localization. Rob Sherman, Meta’s Vice President of Policy and Deputy Chief Privacy Officer, emphasized that while protecting minors is essential, certain restrictions could hinder personalized user experiences and the seamless operation of global digital services. He also highlighted that broad prohibitions on cross-border data transfers might disrupt international communication and business activities, which are integral to today’s interconnected digital economy. These concerns align with those previously expressed by other tech giants, including Google, YouTube, and Snap, who have also raised issues about the DPDP Act’s implications for behavioural tracking and data management.
Read more about it here.
UAE empowers Emirati Musicians’ Association to safeguard artists’ rights and boost creative economy
The UAE Ministry of Economy has officially licensed the Emirati Musicians’ Association (EMA) as a collective management organization to oversee music rights. This initiative aims to regulate the collection and distribution of royalties, ensuring that artists receive fair compensation when their work is used commercially. This development aligns with the UAE’s broader strategy to position its creative economy as a key pillar of the “We the UAE 2031” vision.
Read more about it here.
