MOSCOW, October 22 (RAPSI) – Russian TV company Tricolor TV has filed an appeal with the Intellectual Property Court against the ruling banning it from broadcasting songs by a number of Western singers, including Madonna and Robbie Williams, RAPSI learnt in the court on Wednesday.

The Russian Organization for Intellectual Property (VOIS) filed a copyright infringement claim seeking 720,000 rubles (about $17,500) from Tricolor TV. 

Moscow’s Commercial Court granted the claim in part on April 30.

Apart from Madonna and Robbie Williams, Tricolor TV is banned from broadcasting songs by Joe Dassin, Whitney Houston, ABBA, Mireille Mathieu, and 19 other singers.

The court held that Tricolor TV broadcasted enlisted songs without a contract with the VOIS and without paying a commercial use fee.

The Russian Organization for Intellectual Property (VOIS) is certified by the government to collectively manage intellectual property on behalf of an unlimited number of performers and recording companies.