Saregama Pursues Contempt Charges Against Ilaiyaraaja for Alleged Copyright Breach

Saregama Seeks Legal Action for Alleged Copyright Infringement

Saregama India has approached the Delhi High Court, requesting it to initiate contempt of court proceedings against renowned composer Ilaiyaraaja. The company accuses him of continuing to exploit and assert ownership over certain songs, despite a previous court injunction that prohibits such actions. The court, under the purview of Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani, has issued a notice and demanded a response to Saregama’s plea.

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Details of the Contempt Plea

Saregama’s legal motion seeks severe consequences for Ilaiyaraaja, including his detention in civil prison and the attachment of his movable and immovable assets. The company has also requested the court to appoint an official receiver to sell these attached properties and remit the proceeds to Saregama. This application is part of an ongoing copyright lawsuit filed by Saregama against Ilaiyaraaja.

Background of the Legal Dispute

The legal battle dates back to February 13, when the Delhi High Court issued an interim order restraining Ilaiyaraaja and his associates from exploiting, using, or issuing licenses for certain copyrighted works claimed by Saregama. Furthermore, the order prevented him from asserting ownership over these works to third parties. Despite Ilaiyaraaja’s subsequent attempt to vacate the interim injunction, the court dismissed his application on July 1.

Allegations of Violation

Saregama alleges that Ilaiyaraaja blatantly violated the court’s injunction by continuing to exploit the mentioned works on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, and by asserting ownership over them to third parties. A specific allegation involves the song “Podhuvaga Emmanasu Thangam” from the Tamil film “Murattukkaalai.” According to Saregama, Ilaiyaraaja issued a legal notice to Beyond Pictures on May 8, claiming ownership of the song and demanding that the company secure a license or consent from him, actions that Saregama argues contravened the February injunction.

Subsequent Legal Developments

In a further development, Saregama contends that Ilaiyaraaja initiated a lawsuit against Beyond Pictures in the Madras High Court on June 23, asserting exclusive ownership of the same song. It is alleged that he did not disclose the ongoing Delhi proceedings or the existing injunction to the Madras High Court. This omission purportedly resulted in an ex parte interim injunction against Beyond Pictures on July 6, which was later vacated once the Delhi proceedings were disclosed to the Madras High Court.

Evidence of Continued Infringement

Saregama presented evidence before the Delhi High Court, including screenshots and links, demonstrating that the songs under their copyright claim remain accessible through Ilaiyaraaja-related listings on platforms such as Spotify and YouTube. The company described these actions as “deliberate, intentional, and wilful” violations of the court’s orders, demanding immediate adherence to the February 13 injunction, which was reaffirmed on July 1.