No music during Bangalore Fashion Week: HC restrains IHG

New Delhi, Jan 31: In a setback to the organisers of the upcoming Bangalore Fashion Week (BFW), the Delhi High Court has restrained them from playing music or videos in which the copyright rests with Phonographic Performance Ltd, a society of music firms.

Justice Manmohan Singh has directed the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) and the other organisers of the BFW not to play any sound recording during the four day event for which they need a license from Phonographic Performance LTD (PPL).

"Prima facie, the plaintiff (PPL) has been able to make out a good case for grant of an ex-parte ad-interim order in favour of the plaintiff," Justice Singh said, adding the order will remain in force till March 6, the next date of hearing.

"Hence, till the next date of hearing, the defendants are restrained from communicating or playing to the public any of the sound recordings of the members of the plaintiff by playing music cassettes or compact discs or audio visuals containing sound recordings by any means of diffusion which may amount to infringement of plaintiff's copyright in the above said event," the bench said.

Earlier, PPL had approached the court apprehending that BFW organisers would play its sound recordings during the fashion show as well as at the 'After Hour Parties', without requisite public performance license.

PPL contended that playing sound recordings without obtaining the performance license would amount to infringement of its copyright.

The 6th Edition of Bangalore Fashion Week-Summer Showers 2012 will be held from February 2-5.

PTI