MUMBAI: After obtaining injunctions in Tier 2 cities in Karnatka and Tamil Nadu last week, Indian Music Industry's licensing arm- Public Performance License (PPL) is targeting venues in the national capital.

PPL on Tuesday secured an order from the Delhi High Court directing malls, pubs to pay the license fee before playing music on the occasion of New Year's eve. The court further directed that they would continue to pay the license fee fixed by the court in September 2005 along with a 15 per cent addition to it   

"It is directed that till next date of hearing the defendents (restaurants, malls, bars) are hereby permitted to the use of reproduction, broadcast to the public literary and musical works ... by paying a license fee," a single member vacation bench of Justice Mukta Gupta said on Tuesday.

The defaulters in Delhi include Tivoli Garden Resort, Tonic, Parikrama Restaurant, Hotel City Park, RPM Max, Qashqai, Baci, DLF Promende, Tabula Rasa, Polka Restrobar, Blanco, Tao Lounge Bar, Ansal Plaza, Black, Addiction, Lovely Obsessions and Rever.

PPL's petition contended that hotels make huge profits by playing their music during Christmas and New Year parties. Playing music of their clients without paying them royalties cannot be allowed as it amounts to committing infringement of copy right of their clients, argued PPL.

However, PPL could not receive an interim relief from Bombay High Court last week against defaulters in Mumbai. In Mumbai, PPL had dragged 17 hotels like J W Marriot, Taj Lands End, Supreme Heritage, Imperial Banquets, Marine Centre, Leela Kempenski,Gallops Banquet Hall for nonpayment of license fee. The hotels contended that they had already paid the annual license including December 31. The court declined to grant a stay and adjourned the hearing till January 2010.