Netflix, Hotstar may come under licensing norms despite Bombay HC ruling

Bombay HC has said OTT services don't fall under licensing framework

Last week the central government came up with draft guidelines for amending the Copyright Act, 2013, aiming to bring internet and over-the-top (OTT) service platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Gaana, Saavn, Hotstar,  and Spotify under mandatory licensing rules. 

The new rules could, however, fly in the face of a recent judgment by the Bombay High Court (HC), which held that OTT and internet broadcasting services did not fall under the purview of statutory licensing. Ruling on a commercial suit brought by TIPS Industries against Bharti Airtel’s Wynk Music in April, the Bombay HC held that while Wynk could