SC Requests Ilaiyaraaja’s Firm to Address Sony Entertainment’s Copyright Claims
Supreme Court Seeks Ilaiyaraaja’s Firm Response
In a notable legal development, the Supreme Court has asked Ilaiyaraaja Music N Management Pvt Ltd to respond to a request by Sony Entertainment. The request involves transferring a new copyright case initiated by Ilaiyaraaja’s firm in the Madras High Court to the Bombay High Court.
The bench, led by Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, took note of the arguments presented by Sony’s senior advocate, Abhishek Singhvi. He pointed out that a new lawsuit was filed in the Madras High Court after a similar one was previously dismissed by the Supreme Court.
On July 28, the Supreme Court had rejected Ilaiyaraaja’s plea to transfer the case regarding his works from the Bombay High Court to the Madras High Court.
Singhvi asserted that his rights regarding the music had been bought legitimately, and Ilaiyaraaja’s firm was attempting to revisit disputes that had already been resolved in Bombay.
“My suit pertains to the purchase of his rights,” Singhvi emphasized, highlighting the prior dismissal of the IMMA’s transfer request.
“Issue notice… returnable in six weeks,” remarked the Chief Justice. Singhvi countered that each lawsuit presents a different cause of action, with the recent case concerning various films distinct from those involved in the Bombay proceedings.
When Singhvi sought a stay, owing to the ex-parte distinction of the Madras case, the Chief Justice responded, “Make your prayer to the court, and you are already represented there.”
Earlier, the bench denied Ilaiyaraaja’s request to move the case to Madras. Sony Music’s counsel indicated that the initial case was filed in the Bombay High Court while no case was active in Madras.
The dispute traces back to a lawsuit initiated by Sony Music Entertainment India in 2022, which sought an injunction to prevent Ilaiyaraaja Music N Management Pvt Ltd from utilizing 536 of his works. The rights were claimed to have been acquired via Oriental Records and Echo Recording, which have long been contentious entities in litigation with Ilaiyaraaja.
Ilaiyaraaja stands as one of India’s most prolific composers, having created over 7,500 songs for approximately 1,500 films.
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