The Indian Performing Right Society Limited is a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered under the Companies Act ,1956. It is a Non-Profit Making Body. The Society is Registered as the Copyright Society under section 33 (3) of the Copyright Act, 1957 and is permitted to commence and carry on the Copyright Business in Musical Works and/or any words or any action intended to be sung, spoken or performed with the Music.

The Society came into existence on 23rd August 1969. In its initial years it faced a lot of difficulties. Even the Copyright situation in the country was not clear, there was confusion over ownership of Rights as also acute lack of knowledge and information among not only the Users of Copyrighted Material, but also amongst the owners themselves. IPRS thus waged its way through these difficult times and managed to keep the fight for a better Copyright Environment alive.

In 1990 , the Society underwent a change in leadership and direction and was able to forcefully get its proposal for a change in certain provisions of the Indian Law changed. It played a very vital part in the current Amendments to the Copyright Act of India. The Society is a very active member of the Copyright Enforcement Advisory Council set up by the Ministry of Human Resources Development , Government of India to advise the Government on Copyright Issues and is also a member of the CISAC and the CISAC Asia-Pacific Committee.

IPRS today is a very active Society in the Indian Copyright field. As regards collection, unlike in the past where it used to collect & distribute and remit only International Royalties, it has now started collecting even for Indian Music. IPRS has been instrumental in clarifying the Ownership of Musical Rights in India through continuous dialogue with related Industry Associations. With the result that Today the Ownership of Music Rights (not only Performing & Mechanical Rights) in India is a well settled issue.

IPRS, now being the Registered Copyright Society in India for Musical Works, all Copyright Business in relation to Musical Works is to be administered and controlled by it. The Indian Copyright Act, 1957 permits only 1 Copyright Society in one class of works. Thus, IPRS is the Society for Musical Works.

There are however possibilities of certain people still trying to confuse the situation and spread wrong information .Thus it is very much advised that people get in touch with the IPRS which would be very pleased to offer any assistance in information or otherwise to them.