In a significant victory for the music and entertainment industry, TIPS Industries Ltd., one of India’s leading music labels, has emerged triumphant in a long-standing legal dispute against Wynk Ltd.

The Division Bench of the Hon’ble Bombay High Court has delivered a favorable judgment, upholding the rights of TIPS Industries as copyright holders and prohibiting Wynk Ltd. from utilizing any part of TIPS Industries’ content without a formal commercial arrangement.

The legal battle, which began in 2016, centered on Wynk Ltd.’s unauthorized use of TIPS Industries’ extensive music repertoire without a legitimate commercial agreement in place.

Despite numerous attempts to reach a mutually acceptable resolution, the two parties were unable to settle the matter amicably. Consequently, TIPS Industries requested Wynk Ltd. to remove its entire music catalog from its platform. Subsequently, Wynk Ltd. issued a statutory license notice to TIPS Industries, prompting the latter to seek legal recourse before the Hon’ble Bombay High Court, the company said in a statement.

In delivering its judgment, the court not only sided with TIPS Industries but also highlighted the importance of upholding copyright laws in the entertainment industry. The decision serves as a landmark case, emphasizing the significance of safeguarding the rights of copyright holders.

A spokesperson from TIPS Industries Ltd. stated, “We hold the court’s decision in high regard and appreciate its thorough examination of the case. Our primary objective throughout this process has been to ensure that the rights of copyright holders are upheld. We hope this judgment will serve as a landmark for similar cases in the entertainment industry, emphasizing the importance of copyright laws.”

Kumar Taurani, Managing Director at TIPS Industries, expressed his gratitude for the court’s ruling, acknowledging the challenges faced during the lengthy legal battle. He stated, “It’s been a long journey on this case, since 2016, from its start and between Covid-19 and right until today. We are grateful for this order and sincerely thank the judicial system. There’s no doubt that we have lost business and faced losses over these last 7 years, but this judgment paves the way forward for all copyright holders. We are here to do business, and now that there’s a clear legal mandate, we hope that this will further fuel TIPS’s growth.”

The court’s judgment also provides a comprehensive interpretation of certain provisions of Section 31D of the Copyright Act, 1957, adding clarity to copyright law within the Indian entertainment industry. TIPS Industries Ltd.’s victory is expected to have far-reaching implications for copyright protection and licensing agreements in the country’s vibrant music and entertainment sector.