Tag: Digital Rights Management

Sony Music Publishing & Tips Music strike global renewal, add Youtube

MUMBAI: Hindi music beats are going global, and Sony Music Publishing (SMP) is ensuring they reach every corner of the world. Sony Music Publishing and Tips Music Ltd have renewed their exclusive global publishing agreement, marking an expanded multi-year deal that now includes Youtube (worldwide, excluding India) as a key platform for publishing exploitation. This strategic move will propel Tips Music’s legendary catalogue onto the global stage with even more firepower.

The partnership underscores a shared mission-to amplify Indian music’s international presence. As Bollywood soundtracks and independent Indian music continue to gain traction worldwide, this deal grants SMP extended rights to Tips Music’s 32,000+ track catalogue across 24 languages. That means more Indian music in films, TV shows, ads, and digital platforms everywhere.

Sony Music Publishing’s president – international Guy Henderson expressed enthusiasm about the continued collaboration, “We are thrilled to be expanding our relationship with Kumar and his team at Tips. Tips’ exceptional growth has been a constant factor over many years. Sony Music Publishing looks forward to an exciting future with Tips, with their continued growth and success around the world.”

For Tips Music Ltd MD Kumar Taurani the renewed partnership signals a new era of global impact, “Building on the success of our initial partnership with Sony Music Publishing, this renewal marks an exciting evolution in our global publishing business. In just over a year of collaboration, we’ve seen remarkable growth in our international music usage, with our songs finding new listeners across continents. Adding Youtube as a platform opens significant new avenues for our artists and catalogues to reach audiences worldwide.”

Beyond global distribution, the partnership is set to maximise publishing revenues through Sony Music Publishing’s advanced reporting systems and global partnerships. Tips Music Ltd CEO Hari Nair highlighted the significance of this, stating, “Sony Music Publishing has the best teams and world-class reporting systems, allowing Tips to monitor publishing revenues. The enhanced agreement with SMP enables us to leverage their unparalleled international network of partners and societies globally. The addition of Youtube should drive significant growth in our international publishing revenues.”

Meanwhile, Sony Music Publishing India MD Dinraj Shetty emphasised the larger vision, “Our strengthened partnership and renewed collaboration with Tips Music marks a new era of growth and global impact. By combining their iconic catalogue with our publishing expertise, we are committed to bringing the soul of Indian music to audiences worldwide.”

Tips Music isn’t stopping at just licensing and publishing. The company plans to invest heavily in 12-15 Hindi and regional film albums annually, alongside a robust slate of independent music under Tips Originals.

As Indian music continues to captivate audiences worldwide, this partnership positions Sony Music Publishing and Tips Music at the forefront of this cultural expansion. The deal is expected to significantly boost publishing revenue streams while creating new opportunities for collaboration, sync licensing, and digital growth.

March 3, 2025
TRAI invites stakeholder’s comments on proposed amendments to the interconnection regulation 2017

Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a draft consultation paper to bring necessary changes in the Telecommunication (Broadcasting & Cable) services interconnection (Addressable System) Regulation, 2017.

Trai notified the interconnection regulation on 3 March 2017 and further its first amendment was notified on 30 October 2019. The first draft of the interconnection regulation was issued on 27 August 2019 and a proposed amendment was initiated to include Digital Rights Management System requirements (DRM).

What is DRM?

“DRM is a systematic approach to copyright protection for digital media. The purpose of DRM is to prevent unauthorized redistribution of digital media and restrict the ways consumers can copy content they’ve purchased,” Trai stated in a statement.

“DRM products were developed in response to the rapid increase in online piracy of commercially marketed material, which proliferated through the widespread use of peer-to-peer file exchange programs. Typically, DRM is implemented by embedding code that prevents copying, specifies a time period in which the content can be accessed or limits the number of devices the media can be installed on,” it stated.

The authority also stated in a release that during its consultations, it received numerous feedback that the IPTV-based DPOs are switching to DRM technology. “It is necessary that the consultation committee covers the DRM-based networks and provides for enabling provisions for such operators,” Trai stated.

Trai conducted numerous consultation processes and gathered comments and suggestions from various stakeholders on this issue. Realising the concern with DRM, the authority decided to deal with DRM issues in a separate consultation paper. Trai further formed a committee to study DRM system issues. This committee prepared and submitted a report as well as the draft of ‘System Requirement for Digital Right Management (DRM)’ to the authority

Currently, Trai has invited comments and suggestions from stakeholders on the proposed amendment and draft of the Telecommunication (Broadcasting & Cable) services interconnection (Addressable System) Regulation, 2022, which includes the issues related to the DRM system. The stakeholders can submit their comments on the draft regulations by 7 October and counter-comments by 21 October.

September 10, 2022
SDC unveils innovative mobile media product strategy for 2007

MUMBAI: SDC (Secure Digital Container), the leading, fully label-approved provider of technology for Digital Rights Management (DRM), today announces its vision and new product strategy for the mobile music market in 2007.

SDC’s next-generation mobile DRM technology is supported on over 100 mobile devices and is able to simplify the user experience and reduce cost and complexity for carriers by using one unique application and one DRM system for all music and video related services.

New SDC products scheduled for launch in early 2007 include updated Mobile Players and its new PC Player Version 2.0 for various carriers around the world.

With music-enabled handsets currently outshipping iPods at a ratio of two-to-one*, SDC predicts that pay-per-download, over-the-air, full-track music and video mobile services will soon be deployed throughout all major markets worldwide, while subscription-based “all you can eat” services will grow in popularity with both carriers and consumers. The integration of existing WAP services into player applications will continue to create an easy browsing and purchasing experience for consumers.

A vital element of such services will be a mobile media solution that can consolidate a number of functions – music and video player, web browser, download manager, search and recommendation functionalities, radio player and device content management – into a single, carrier-branded application, while also offering the ability to seamlessly sideload content to PCs and other devices.

This solution is able to simplify usage of different types of rich-media content such as music and video for consumers by integrating all services into a single user interface. It is also able to reduce cost and complexity for carriers by using one unique application and one DRM system for all music and video related services, and is a vital tool in helping carriers achieve significant uplift in ARPU from next generation data services.

SDC has already rolled-out an integrated service with Telus Mobility in Canada by integrating Shazam Entertainment’s music recognition application into SDC’s Java Music Player. SDC developed players combining both pay-per-download and subscription services for Telus and French operator SFR in 2006.

SDC’s new PC Player Version 2.0, due for launch in the first quarter of next year, will offer carriers a highly-customisable, white label player and single DRM technology for both PCs and mobile devices that will be compatible with all common mobile operating systems (Brew, Java, Symbian and Windows) and codec formats (AAC/AAC+, MP3, MPEG4 and WMA).

“2007 is set to be a high-growth year for the mobile music industry, as more and more consumers choose to download music to their phones, rather than traditional media players,” says Michael Bornhäusser, CEO, SDC. “In order to maintain ease-of-use for consumers it is vital that carriers use a single application and user interface for all entertainment services and content. Only SDC is truly able to deliver this today.“

SDC’s unique mobile DRM solution, which enables secure video, full length music and other rich media content distribution across wireless devices and PCs, has been adopted and deployed by an unprecedented 16 major carriers worldwide to date.

Current customers include T-Mobile (Germany, UK and Czech Republic), O2 (UK & Ireland), 3 (UK), SFR (France), Amena (Spain), TELUS (Canada), Telstra (Australia) and Hutch (India).

SDC also has partnerships with all of the world’s major handset manufacturers, including Nokia, Motorola, HTC, Sony Ericsson and Samsung.

December 4, 2006