Since 1 January 2024 a Georgian business playing music deals with one accredited society, IPOA, which licenses both the compositions and the recordings under one tariff.
| Who | What for | |
|---|---|---|
| IPOA | Intellectual Property Owners Association | Musical compositions and phonograms; sole accredited society |
| Sakpatenti | National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia | Accredits and supervises the society; settles tariff disputes |
| GCA | Georgian Copyright Association | Former society; not accredited since 2024 |
IPOA issues a license for public performance of musical compositions and phonograms, for recorded and live music in cafés, bars, restaurants, hotels, shops, salons, gyms and events. Sakpatenti accredited it by order No. 438 of 29 December 2023, and the law allows only one society per right or category of rights (article 63(3)).
The former society GCA lost its status under the 2023 amendments, so venues should not license with it.
The IPOA tariff, in force since 3 January 2024 (edition of 1 May 2025), sets monthly amounts in GEL, split into phonograms and musical compositions. Catering pays per m2 of the area where clients are served, in sliding bands; hotels pay by star category, and salons, saunas and gyms by area band. Discounts apply by area, for smaller towns and for chains of five or more outlets.
2025 example: a café or bar up to 39 m2 using recorded music pays GEL 2.38 per m2 a month (0.79 for phonograms and 1.59 for compositions), so 30 m2 costs GEL 71.40 a month. If IPOA and users cannot agree, a commission set up by Sakpatenti fixes the royalty for all users.
Consumer plans of Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube are licensed for personal, noncommercial use under their own terms, so a private account is not a license to play music to customers. Georgian law has no exception for background music in business premises; the free performance exception covers only official, funeral and religious ceremonies (article 25).
The Law on Copyright and Related Rights makes the society represent rightholders who are not its members and collect royalties for them, including for public performance of musical works (article 66(1)). All works publicly performed are presumed to be in its repertoire, and the burden of proof is on the user (article 66(5)).
Commercially published phonograms may be played in public without consent but against remuneration, which is collected only by the society (article 52); a phonogram made available online counts as published. A rightholder, member or not, may withdraw rights from the society with at least six months' written notice, but not this phonogram remuneration (article 66⁴).
So an author can opt out for the compositions and license directly, but the venue must prove it, and the remuneration for published recordings stays with IPOA. The venue owner, organizer and user are jointly liable unless a written contract allocates responsibility (article 66(7)).
Dr.DIO Studio makes its own electronic and ambient music, no Dr.DIO track is registered with any collecting society, and the Business plan ($14.99 a month per venue, 14 days free) gives the venue a direct public playback license and a certificate for Dr.DIO music.
Georgian law presumes that IPOA represents all music played in public, including music by non members, and the remuneration for published recordings, which includes music released online, is collected only by IPOA. A venue playing Dr.DIO music should therefore expect IPOA to claim at least the phonogram part of the tariff.
For the compositions, Dr.DIO can withdraw its works from IPOA by written notice, and the venue would then need to prove it with the certificate and track list. Ask IPOA in writing, with the Dr.DIO certificate, what it will charge before you decide.
Any other music in the venue, such as radio, TV, live music or other playlists, still needs the usual licenses.
This page explains the general rules as published by the societies and laws listed above, checked in October 2026. It is not legal advice; fees and rules change, so confirm with the society before you decide.
IPOA, the only society accredited by Sakpatenti since January 2024, for both compositions and recordings.
Under the 2025 tariff, GEL 2.38 per m2 a month for a café or bar up to 39 m2 with recorded music, for example GEL 71.40 for 30 m2.
No. GCA lost its status under the 2023 amendments, and IPOA replaced it from 2024.
No. Personal plans are for personal, noncommercial use, and Georgian law has no exception for background music.
Usually yes. The law lets IPOA collect for non members and presumes all music played is in its repertoire.
The venue owner, the organizer and the user are jointly liable unless a written contract allocates responsibility.
