New Delhi, May 14 -- The copyright dispute between celebrated composer A. R. Rahman and the Junior Dagar brothers has brought into the spotlight a frequent clash between Indian classical music and mainstream film compositions. It's a subject mired in grey areas, where it's tough to separate inspiration from outright infringement.

Preventive measures involve conducting music rights due diligence, seeking express permissions from custodians of traditional works, and crediting original authors, according to experts. But traditional musicians encounter obstacles such as the absence of formal copyright registration, oral transmission of works, and limited access to legal remedy, often making it more difficult to establish infringement.

"The ...