[Commons-Law] version recordings, tune-borrowings

[RobinManuel at aol.com]

    A few months ago there was discussion here of the anticipated Indian 
Parliament decision to delete S.52(1)(j) of the Copyright Act, which would greatly 
limit the vogue of version recordings by requiring producers to obtain the 
permission of original copyright holders.  Does anyone know if (1) this law was 
passed, and (2) if it was passed, what sorts of effects it has had on the 
music industry and the abundance of version recordings?
    I am also curious about the legal aspects of the hoary tradition of 
Indian film music composers borrowing tunes from foreign (mostly Western) popular 
songs.  Are permissions ever secured and royalties paid for such borrowings, or 
do the producers (many on EMI and other large international labels) simply 
assume that there is no danger of litigation or conflict?  
    Peter Manuel (musicologist)