MUMBAI: The long running battle for royalties between composers, lyricists and the music industry bodies is now finally reaching its crescendo. After the Copyright Amendment Act was passed last year, renowned writer Javed Akhtar has taken on the Indian Performing Rights Society (IPRS) and the Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), over irregularities in payment.

Akhtar filed a complaint with the central government’s Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry about the irregularities in the working of IPRS and PPL. Following the letter, a show cause notice was issued by the central government to the two respective music bodies to clarify their stands.

Working out like a bollywood film, a small music company named Asha Audio based in Kolkata then entered the picture.

Speaking with Radioandmusic.com, Akhtar’s counsel Sanjay Tandon said, “It was totally bizarre as instead of replying to the notice, Asha Audio dragged Javed Akhtar and the organizations to court and attained an injunction against the proceedings. We were surprised as how can anyone stop the government to enquire into a matter?”

The matter then came up in a civil revision petition filed before the Kolkata High Court by Akhtar. Although the court passed the judgment in Akhtar’s favour and ordered the IPRS and PPL to pay royalty to music composers and lyricists in accordance with the amended provision of the Copyright Act, the matter is far from over now.

Tandon further states that the court did pass the order on the royalty issue but they did not do justice as they did not lift the injunction on IPRS and PPL to clarify their stands over the irregularities pointed out in the initial complaint. Tandon who was earlier associated with the IPRS, feels that both the parties should adopt a mature approach and since the law is now clear, solve the matter amicably.

He added, “The court did justice on the royalty issue but it did not lift the ban on the clarification stand by IPRS and PPL so justice has not been provided fully. Javed Akhtar has now filed another petition for the same.”

The petition has been filed in the Barasat district court in Kolkata and will come up for hearing on Saturday. Javed Akhtar’s lawyer Amit Datta remained unavailable for comment.

Fighting the battle on behalf of composers and lyricists for nearly four years, Akhtar achieved victory first when the act was passed last year and now with the court accepting the new provisions of the royalty payments. An ecstatic Akhtar said, “There was an urgent need for this act as it is high time that lyricists and composers get their due; and luckily the act was passed quickly as everyone supported it, otherwise normally it could have taken around eight years. The Kolkata High Court has also agreed to accept the provisions and help the artistes in getting the royalty. Though it has not been implemented yet, the order has been passed and I am happy for the same. I know that it is just a matter of time. All this was happening from decades so it will take some time for it to end.”

Meanwhile, the music bodies have remained mum on the entire issue even as the war against royalties slowly reaches its pinnacle.

While representatives of the IPRS remained unavailable for comment, PPL CEO Vipul Pradhan chose to ignore the matter altogether. He said, “I am totally unaware about this entire issue and even if there is a dispute, it should be between the owners of the rights and Javed Akhtar. We as a body just manage the rights on the behalf of the owners of these rights. Whatever royalty is collected is properly distributed to the respective parties by us.”

As the matter has entered into a deadlock from both the sides now, the appeal on Saturday will determine another side of the story.

More to follow.