MANISH JANI
MANAGER - MEMBER RELATION, THE INDIAN PERFORMING RIGHT SOCIETY LTD (IPRS)
The IPRS came into existence on 23rd August 1969. The IPRS is a representative body of Owners of Music, viz. The Composers, Lyricists (or Authors) and the Publishers of Music and is also the sole Authorised Body to issue Licences for usage of Musical Works & Literary Music within India by any person.
Composers are those who are better known as Music Directors, Authors are better known as Lyricists, Publishers of Music are the Music Companies, or those who hold Publishing Rights of the Musical & Literary Works.
IPRS is a non-profit Organisation and is structured as a Company Limited by Guarantee and under the Companies Act 1956. IPRS is a Copyright Society registered by the Central Government under Section 33(3) of the Copyright Act, 1957 authorised to carry on the Copyright Business in Musical Works as defined in section 2(p) of the Copyright Act, 1957 and Literary Work associated with Musical Work.
The Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (IPRS) as seen today is not an overnight creation. The Society has evolved and emerged through good and rough weather during the past 46 years since its founding and incorporation. It is a history of a journey full of pains, struggle, frustration, but ultimately some achievement at last.
The task was very difficult and tedious because copyright law in India was not well defined. There was confusion over ownership of Rights as also acute lack of knowledge and information amongst not only the Users of copyrighted material but also amongst owners themselves. The IPRS Members themselves were not too interested in the affairs of the Society, simply because they, like the common man of the Country, were nor aware of the importance of the Copyright Law and had no idea what this business was all about. Words like Copyright Ownership, Performing Right and Licence Fees were alien not only to the common public but also to them. IPRS thus waged its way through these difficult times and situations and managed to keep the fight for a better Copyright Environment and awareness in the Country.