Radio City Wins Relief: Madras HC Quashes Royalty Contempt Orders

• Madras High Court quashed contempt orders against Radio City (Music Broadcast Limited) in a music royalty dispute.
• The court ruled that earlier directives, including depositing 50% of alleged dues and submitting logs, were legally unsustainable.
• Contempt jurisdiction was deemed not maintainable as the underlying order is pending before the Supreme Court and monetary liability was unquantified.
• The court emphasized that royalty recovery must follow statutory process under Section 75 of the Copyright Act, requiring quantification and certification as a civil decree.
• The ruling provides significant relief to Radio City and other broadcasters involved in similar copyright disputes.

Why It Matters: Radio City's win eases royalty payment burdens for broadcasters, setting a key precedent.