In India, copyright law is governed by the Copyright Act of 1957, which grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights to use, distribute, and profit from their work. Performing copyright, which is protected under Section 38 of the act, specifically refers to the rights granted to performers who perform copyrighted works.

Performing copyright gives performers exclusive rights to perform, broadcast, or communicate their performance of a copyrighted work to the public. This means that they have the right to prevent others from performing their work without permission. To enforce their performing copyright, performers can take legal action against infringers and seek injunctions or damages.

The Copyright Act also provides for criminal penalties for copyright infringement, including fines and imprisonment. Therefore, those who infringe on performing copyright may face serious legal consequences.

Performers can also protect their performing copyright by registering their performances with the Copyright Office in India, providing them with proof of ownership that can be useful in cases of infringement or disputes.

Performing copyright societies in India are organizations that represent the rights of performers, such as singers, musicians, and dancers, and collect royalties on their behalf for the public performance of their works. These societies are licensed by the government under the Copyright Act of 1957 and operate as non-profit organizations.

There are four main performing copyright societies in India, namely the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS), the Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), the Novex Communications Private Limited, and the Indian Singers’ Rights Association (ISRA).

The Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) represents the rights of music composers, lyricists, and publishers, and licenses the public performance of their works. It has a repertoire of over a million works and licenses music for various uses, such as radio and television broadcasts, live concerts, and online streaming.

The Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) represents the rights of music labels and owners of sound recordings, and licenses the public performance of their works. It has a repertoire of over three million works and licenses music for various uses, such as radio and television broadcasts, live concerts, and public events.

The Novex Communications Private Limited represents the rights of music labels and owners of sound recordings, and licenses the public performance of their works. It has a repertoire of over 400,000 works and licenses music for various uses, such as radio and television broadcasts, live concerts, and public events.

The Indian Singers’ Rights Association (ISRA) represents the rights of singers and collects royalties on their behalf for the public performance of their works. It has a repertoire of over 50,000 works and licenses music for various uses, such as radio and television broadcasts, live concerts, and online streaming.

The Indian Reprographic Rights Organisation (IRRO): IRRO is a copyright society that represents the rights of authors and publishers of literary works. It grants licenses for the reproduction and distribution of copyrighted works and collects royalties on behalf of its members.

Performing copyright societies in India play an important role in protecting the rights of performers and ensuring that they receive fair compensation for the use of their works. They also promote the development of the music industry in India by encouraging creativity and innovation among performers and providing a platform for the public performance of their works.

Overall, performing copyright plays a crucial role in protecting the rights of performers and promoting creativity and innovation in the arts. By enforcing performing copyright, performers can ensure that their work is respected and valued while receiving fair compensation for their creative output.