In a significant ruling, the Bombay High Court has upheld that obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Novex is necessary for playing music at events. The court dismissed an appeal by hotel associations on December 12, 2024, supporting the earlier decision made by Justice R.I. Chagla in November.
This ruling is a major blow to the hotel associations, emphasizing Novex’s crucial role in the music rights landscape. It confirms Novex’s authority to issue licenses for various types of events, ensuring that music creators and rights holders receive fair compensation for their work. Furthermore, the ruling allows Novex to take action against venues that fail to comply with music rights regulations.
The court reiterated that Novex is recognized as a copyright owner, meaning it can grant music licenses even without being registered as a copyright society. As a result, organizers and venues must secure a NOVEX NOC to play any copyrighted music legally, or they risk facing serious legal consequences.
This decision marks an important step in supporting artists and maintaining the integrity of music rights in event management.
