India: Broadcasting: Film, TV & Radio

The Supreme Court has clarified the service tax treatment of marketing and promotion expenditure incurred by a broadcaster on commercially exploiting acquired music and song video rights.

The Supreme Court has clarified the service tax treatment of marketing and promotion expenditure incurred by a broadcaster on commercially exploiting acquired music and song video rights. The Court upheld the CESTAT’s view that such expenditure does not represent consideration for any taxable service to the film producers, since the broadcaster promoted the rights for its own benefit as assignee and therefore no taxable service relationship existed.

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 enters its final stages, with the third-place play-off and the final between defending champions Argentina and Spain expected to attract millions of viewers worldwide, the focus is no longer confined to the action on the pitch. Even before the tournament commenced, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., had secured the exclusive media rights for India, by approaching the Delhi High Court seeking protection against rogue websites and digital platforms expected to illegally stream the tournament. The proceedings demonstrate that acquiring exclusive broadcasting rights is only the first step, with effective protection against digital piracy being equally essential.

Media and entertainment (M&E) business nowadays is not only being driven by creativity but by intangible assets, namely, ideas, expressions, brands and personalities, which would also be subject to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

India's film industries are creative powerhouses, but behind the glamour lies a complex web of legal challenges. Bollywood (Hindi cinema based in Mumbai) and South Industry (Tollywood, Kollywood and Sandalwood)...

Sports today is not only about competition on the field. It is a high value commercial ecosystem established on identity, content, and access and each of these is secured through intellectual property ("IP") law.

The fundamental objective of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957 ("Copyright Act") is to safeguard intellectual creativity by granting creators exclusive rights over the use and dissemination of their works, thereby protecting such works from unauthorized exploitation.

The case of "Al-Hamd Tradenation vs Phonographic Performances Limited" centered on the issue of whether demanding exorbitant licensing fees constitutes a refusal under Section 31 of the Copyright Act, 1957, and whether such refusal would justify the grant of a compulsory license.

The Use of Low Power and Very Low Power Wireless Access System including Radio Local Area Network in Lower 6 GHz band...