Rules 30 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rules 30 and 31 finish Chapter VIII, on the statutory licence for broadcasting under section 31D of the Copyright Act, 1957. Rule 30 makes the broadcaster keep records and books of account and lets owners inspect them. Rule 31 sets out how the royalty for radio and television is determined, with public notice, suggestions, a hearing, a decision and yearly revision.
A broadcasting organisation keeps records of works broadcast, with time slot, duration and period, at its principal place of business, separately for radio and television, open to the owner on prior notice, plus separate books of account. Royalty is fixed after a public notice, thirty days for suggestions, a hearing and a decision within two months, with separate rates for radio and television and revision at least once a year. Both rules speak of the Board, abolished at Act level in 2021.
The Board caution
Rules 30(2) and 31 give the key steps to "the Board". That is the text as notified in 2013. The Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 abolished the Board at Act level and, for section 31D, moved its role to the Commercial Court (see the Appellate Board provisions after 2021). These Rules have not been checked here for a matching amendment, so this article explains what the rules require of broadcasters and owners; it does not present procedure before the Board as current. For the Act text see section 31D. If you run a station or manage a catalogue and want the records and rates reviewed, our legal consultation team can help.
Rule 30: records and accounts
Rule 30(1). "Records containing the details of the owners in respect of total number of works broadcast, the details of such works and the time slot, duration and period of the broadcast shall be maintained by the broadcasting organisation at its principal place of business". They "shall be open to inspection on prior notice by the owner of rights or his duly authorized agent or representative in the works during business hours" and the owner "may obtain copies of relevant extracts from such records at their cost". The organisation "shall maintain separate records for radio broadcasting and television broadcasting."
Rule 30(2). The organisation "shall maintain separate books of accounts for communication to public by way of broadcast containing such details as may be determined by the Board at the time of fixing the rate of royalty and render to the owners of rights such reports and accounts."
| Duty | Content | Where or when |
|---|---|---|
| Records | Owners, number of works broadcast, details of works, time slot, duration, period | Principal place of business; separate for radio and television |
| Inspection | By owner or authorised agent | On prior notice, in business hours; extracts at the owner's cost |
| Books of account | Details fixed when the rate of royalty is determined | Separate for broadcast; reports and accounts to owners |
Compare rule 26 on cover versions, where inspection is "with prior permission"; rule 30 says "prior notice", a lighter condition. This follows section 31D(7) of the Act, which requires records, reports and inspection "in such manner as may be prescribed". The place for the records must also be given in the notice under rule 29(4)(l); see our article on rule 29.
Rule 31: how royalty is determined
| Step | What the rule says | Sub-rule |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Board, "immediately after its constitution", on its own motion or on a request from an interested person, gives public notice of its intention to fix royalties for communication to the public of literary or musical works and sound recordings, and may invite suggestions; the notice is given separately for radio and television | 31(1) |
| 2 | The notice is published in the Official Gazette, re-published in two daily newspapers with circulation in the major part of the country, and posted on the websites of the Copyright Office and the Board | 31(2) |
| 3 | An owner, a broadcasting organisation or any other interested person may, within thirty days of publication, give suggestions with adequate evidence on the rate, including different rates for different works and formats | 31(3) |
| 4 | The Board gives a hearing to those who made relevant suggestions and considers them | 31(4) |
| 5 | Within two months of the last date for suggestions, the Board determines separate rates for radio and television | 31(5), (6) |
| 6 | Revision "periodically, at least once in a year" | 31(9) |
Drafting slip. Rule 31(3) says a person "may within thirty days ... shall give suggestions"; "may" and "shall" collide, and the sense is that suggestions are invited within thirty days, not compelled.
Factors for the royalty (sub-rule 7)
The Board takes into consideration: (a) the time slot, with different rates for different slots including repeat broadcast; (b) different rates for different classes of works; (c) different rates for different nature of use; (d) the prevailing standards of royalties for such works; (e) the terms and conditions of the Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) between the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the broadcaster for operating an FM radio broadcasting service; and (f) other relevant matters.
Factors for payment (sub-rule 8)
In determining payment under sub-rule (5), the Board takes into consideration: (a) works included in scheduled programmes; (b) works newly published and not in the scheduled programme; (c) works communicated in unexpected circumstances; and (d) use in excess of the duration, a different time slot or a larger territorial coverage than stated in the notice. These mirror the provisos in rule 29 and the fact that a station may exceed what its notice stated. The text does not say whether item (d) means a higher charge; it only says the Board considers it.
The rules print no rate, and none is stated here. Sub-rule (6) restates that radio and television royalties are determined separately, as section 31D(3) of the Act requires.
A worked example
Tarang FM keeps a register at its Delhi head office listing each song played, the owner, the time slot, the duration and the period. It keeps a separate register for the sister television channel. A music company's agent gives prior notice of an inspection and reviews the radio records in business hours, taking extracts at the company's own cost. Tarang's books of account for broadcast carry the details the Board specified when fixing the rate, and Tarang sends the owners periodic reports and accounts. If Tarang plays a song for longer than its notice stated, rule 31(8)(d) shows that excess use is a factor considered when determining payment.
Who does what
| Person | Duty |
|---|---|
| Broadcaster | Records, separate radio and television records, books of account, reports to owners |
| Owner or agent | Inspects on prior notice; may give suggestions on the rate within thirty days of the public notice |
| Board (as notified) | Public notice, hearing, rate, yearly revision |
What the rules do not say
- No rate or percentage.
- No format for the records or reports.
- No period for which records are to be kept.
- What happens if inspection is refused; section 31D and the Rules are silent on a remedy beyond the Act.
- Who runs the rate-fixing process now that the Board has been abolished at Act level.
Need help with broadcaster records or royalty?
Owners and broadcasters both need clean records and clear notices to avoid disputes over what was played and what is owed. A legal consultation can map your obligations under these rules.
Key takeaways
- Broadcasters keep separate radio and television records at the principal place of business, open to inspection on prior notice.
- Separate books of account carry the details fixed when the rate is determined.
- Rate-setting: public notice, thirty days for suggestions, a hearing, a decision within two months, revision at least yearly.
- Separate royalty rates for radio and television; the FM GOPA terms are one listed factor.
- The Board is abolished at Act level; check later amendments to the Rules.
Read next
- Rule 29: notice for broadcast of literary and musical works and sound recordings
- Rules 32–34: translation licence application, notice and consideration
- Copyright societies in India: PPL, IPRS, ISRA
Disclaimer: Based on the Copyright Rules, 2013 as notified (with the 2016 amendment), read with the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, as consulted on 1 October 2026. Later amendment rules, forms and fees should be checked in their current form. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.