Delhi High Court Issues Order: One8 Commune, Owned by Virat Kohli, Restricted from Playing Copyrighted Songs

The Delhi High Court has issued an interim order restraining One8 Commune, a restaurant and cafe chain owned by cricketer Virat Kohli, from playing songs copyrighted by Phonographic Performance Ltd. (PPL). PPL alleges that One8 Commune played these recordings without the required license. One8 Commune has assured the court that they will refrain from playing any copyrighted recordings without obtaining the necessary license from PPL, whose list of copyrighted recordings is available on their website.

This legal dispute highlights a recurring issue, as similar cases have previously been brought before the court. The court emphasized the copyright owner's right to control the use of recordings, especially for commercial purposes. Playing copyrighted recordings without a license constitutes copyright infringement. The court acknowledged the challenges in detecting copyright infringement in closed spaces, distinguishing it from trademark infringement.

Given the ongoing infringement, the court rejected the notion of pre-litigation mediation, emphasizing the plaintiff's right to urgent relief to prevent further copyright violations. The case is scheduled for presentation before the Joint Registrar (Judicial) on January 15, 2024. During this phase, the involved parties will finalize pleadings, formally admit or deny documents, and mark necessary exhibits. Subsequently, the case will proceed to a case management hearing, allowing the court to plan and oversee future proceedings.

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