Delhi High Court Maintains Injunction Against Ilaiyaraaja in Copyright Case
The Delhi High Court, in a significant ruling, has decided not to revoke the interim injunction favoring Saregama India Limited in its ongoing copyright battle with renowned music composer Ilaiyaraaja. This legal dispute concerns the rights to songs and musical compositions from 134 films.
Justice Tushar Rao Gedela reaffirmed the injunction, originally issued on February 13, which prohibits Ilaiyaraaja from exploiting, using, licensing, or asserting ownership over the works claimed by Saregama. The injunction pertains to sound recordings as well as literary and musical compositions featured in several films such as Annakkili, 16 Vayathiniley, Kavikkuyil, Bharathi, Pallavi Anu Pallavi, Mullum Malarum, Raaja Paarvai, Netrikkann, and Kalyanaraman. The detailed order is yet to be published.
Background of the Case
The case originated from a lawsuit filed by Saregama, alleging that Ilaiyaraaja was unlawfully exploiting and licensing works over which Saregama holds copyright. Saregama, formerly known as The Gramophone Company of India Limited, has been in operation since 1901. Between 1976 and 2001, Saregama entered into agreements with various film producers, transferring copyright of sound recordings, musical works, and literary works to the company.
Asserting ownership over a substantial collection of film and non-film music across various languages including Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, and Telugu, Saregama licenses these works to third parties. The company claimed that in early February 2026, it identified alleged unauthorized use of its copyrighted content on platforms like Amazon Music, iTunes, and JioSaavn, with Ilaiyaraaja purportedly staking ownership claims.
Legal Proceedings and Court Observations
On January 13, 2026, Ilaiyaraaja issued a legal notice asserting rights over musical works he created for various films, including those involved in the current legal action. The Court, while granting interim relief on February 13, acknowledged a “prima facie, strong case” in favor of Saregama. It noted that the balance of convenience leaned towards Saregama, highlighting potential irreparable harm to the company without interim protection.
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Consequently, the Court restrained Ilaiyaraaja and his associates from exploiting or granting licenses for Saregama’s copyrighted works, or claiming ownership to third parties. Ilaiyaraaja’s plea to vacate this order was subsequently dismissed.
Representation
Saregama’s legal team included Senior Advocates Chander M Lall and Akhil Sibal, supported by Advocates Ankur Sangal, Ankit Arvind, Shashwat Rakshit, Sucheta Roy, and Rishabh Rao from Khaitan & Co. Representing Ilaiyaraaja was Senior Advocate Swathi Sukumar, alongside Advocates Naveen Nagarjuna, Shloka Narayanan, Ritk Raghuwanshi, Rishika Agarwal, and Anshu Tulsyan.
