Other — India Copyright Cases
66 decisions indexed
Page 1 of 3 · 66 total
AFR M/s Ele Animations (P) Ltd. v.Satya Swagat Mohanty
The petitioner challenged an order rejecting its application to reject a plaint filed by the respondent. The suit involved allegations of copyright infringement concerning artistic works depicting 'Lord Jagannath' and 'Jagan.' The core legal issue was whether the case qualified for exemption from mandatory pre-institution mediation under Section 12-A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, based on the claim of urgent interim relief.
M/s. Sreedevi Video Corporation v.M/s.TKP Pictures
The Madras High Court heard an appeal regarding the ownership and infringement of copyrights related to the film 'MALLU VETTY MINOR'. The court found that the petitioner, M/s. Sreedevi Video Corporation, was the absolute owner of the copyrights. Consequently, a permanent injunction was granted against Respondent No.1 (TKP Pictures) for infringing these rights.
Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar v.Mr. A.R. Rahman & Ors.
Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar filed a suit seeking recognition of copyright and injunction against Mr. A.R. Rahman and others regarding the musical composition 'Shiva Stuti'. The plaintiff alleged that his ancestral work was being used in the song 'Veera Raja Veera' without proper attribution or authorization. The Delhi High Court, while addressing an interim application, found prima facie evidence of copyright infringement. Consequently, the court directed mandatory changes to credit slides on online platforms and ordered a substantial deposit from the defendants.
Ranjan Vasudeo Kolambe v.Appa Alias Hanmant Maroti Hatnure And Another
Ranjan Vasudeo Kolambe filed a civil suit alleging that the respondents copied the entire content of his two Marathi language books, 'Hkkjrh; vFkZO;oLFkk' and 'Hkkjrh; jkT;?kVuk iz'kklu'. The plaintiff sought an interim injunction to prevent the sale of these allegedly duplicate works. However, the Bombay High Court dismissed the commercial appeal filed by the plaintiff, finding prima facie no merit in his case.
Ranjan Vasudeo Kolambe v.Appa Alias Hanmant Maroti Hatnure And Another
Ranjan Vasudeo Kolambe filed a civil suit alleging that defendants had infringed his copyrights by copying the content of two Marathi language books. The plaintiff sought an interim injunction to prevent the sale and publication of these alleged duplicate works. However, the Bombay High Court dismissed the commercial appeal, finding prima facie no merit in the plaintiff's case regarding the grant of temporary relief.
M/S Shree Hari Industries (Hari Oil Mill) v.Registrar Of Copyrights And Anr
M/S Shree Hari Industries filed proceedings against the Registrar of Copyrights, alleging that certain copyright grants were improperly issued. The petitioner contended that these grants failed to properly consider their pre-existing registered trademarks. During the hearing on May 29, 2024, the court accepted trademark search certificates and noted the petitioner's request for a stay on the use of the disputed marks. The matter was listed for further consideration.
Wieden+Kennedy India Private Limited v.Jindal Steel And Power Limited
Wieden+Kennedy India Private Limited approached the Delhi High Court seeking interim protection against Jindal Steel And Power Limited regarding an ad film campaign titled 'Steel of India'. The petitioner claimed authorship and copyright over the creative works, arguing that the respondent terminated the contract without fulfilling payment obligations. The court addressed the dispute under Section 9 of the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996, while acknowledging the IP nature of the claim. The judgment mandated a deposit of Rs. 59 lakhs by the respondent and granted an interim injunction against distribution if the deposit was not made within two weeks.
Manya Vejju Alias Mv Kasi v.Sapna Bhog
This appeal before the Bombay High Court concerned an order restraining the appellant, Manya Vejju, from publishing statements alleging copyright infringement against the respondent, Sapna Bhog. The dispute centered on allegations of plagiarism between their respective romance genre literary works. The core legal question was whether the threat of infringement action fell under Section 60 of the Copyright Act, 1957. The High Court found that the trial court's inquiry into the merits of the copyright claim exceeded its remit and consequently quashed the impugned order, remitting the matter back for a fresh determination.
Manya Vejju Alias Mv Kasi v.Sapna Bhog
This appeal before the Bombay High Court concerned an order restraining the appellant (Manya Vejju) from making statements alleging copyright infringement against the respondent (Sapna Bhog). The dispute centered on allegations of plagiarism and unauthorized copying between their respective literary works in the romance genre. The court held that determining whether actual infringement exists is beyond the scope of a suit under Section 60, as it risks prejudging an action for infringement. Consequently, the High Court quashed the impugned order and remitted the matter back to the District Judge for fresh determination after considering the underlying infringement suit.
Ten Events And Entertainment v.Novex Communications Private Limited & Ors.
Ten Events And Entertainment filed a declaratory suit challenging the requirement to obtain licenses or NOCs from Defendants, who claimed copyright over songs played during wedding events. The plaintiff argued that such usage falls under 'fair dealing' as per Section 52(1)(za) of the Copyright Act. However, the Delhi High Court found that the plaintiff failed to plead the necessary material facts—such as the nature and bona fides of the ceremony—required by law to establish a cause of action for this specific declaration. Consequently, the court dismissed the interim application and directed the plaintiff to show cause why the entire suit should not be dismissed.
Ms. Aaradhya Bachchan And Anr. v.Bollywood Time & Ors.
Ms. Aaradhya Bachchan filed a civil suit alleging that various parties were circulating misleading videos on YouTube claiming she was critically ill or deceased, often using morphed pictures. The plaintiffs argued this violated her right to privacy and infringed upon the family's intellectual property rights, specifically copyright in their images. The court examined the role of social media intermediaries like Google LLC (YouTube) under the IT Rules, 2021, while setting procedural timelines for the parties to proceed with the infringement claim.
Mr.C.S.Padam Chand v.K.Shibu Proprietor Thameem Films and M/s H.R.Pictures
The appeal concerned the appellant's attempt to restrain the release of the movie 'Thugs' due to alleged non-fulfillment of obligations under prior copyright agreements with K.Shibu. The court found that although H.R.Pictures was not a party to the original agreement, an interim injunction could be maintained against its further exploitation (OTT rights) provided K.Shibu furnished adequate security.
Chasvinder Singh v.The Registrar Of Copyrights & Ors
This Delhi High Court order addressed a writ petition filed by Chasvinder Singh against The Registrar of Copyrights. During arguments, respondents raised objections regarding the maintainability of the petition, arguing that the appropriate legal remedy for challenging the copyright grant was through a rectification petition under Section 45 of the Copyright Act, 1957. The court granted time to the petitioner to take further instructions before listing the matter for hearing.
Narendra Hirawat And Co. v.Sholay Media Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. & Anr.
This case concerns a dispute over film licensing rights for 'Sholay' and related titles between Narendra Hirawat And Co. (NHC) and Sholay Media Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (SME). The core issue revolved around alleged non-compliance with a Deed of Settlement, which included payment obligations and an extension of the license period. The Supreme Court granted leave and allowed the appeals, effectively restoring the interim injunction in favor of NHC.
T.S.J.Media Private Limited v.Boston Analytics Private Limited
T.S.J.Media Private Limited filed a suit alleging that Boston Analytics Private Limited illegally harvested substantial portions of information from its proprietary database, which tracks investments made by Private Equity and Venture Capitalists in India. The plaintiff claimed this infringement occurred after the defendant gained access under false pretenses. The court found that the defendant's act of publishing the data without permission constituted a clear violation of copyright.
Bennett Coleman Co Ltd v.Whatsappinc & Ors.
Bennett Coleman Co Ltd filed a suit against Whatsappinc and others alleging widespread unauthorized circulation and distribution of its proprietary e-newspapers. The plaintiff asserted that their published news articles, available through subscription on their websites, constitute original literary works protected under copyright law. Given the evidence presented regarding illegal dissemination via platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, the Delhi High Court granted an interim injunction in favor of Bennett Coleman Co Ltd.
Dr.S.Vijaya Bharati (Deceased) v.Mr.T.S.Ramalingam (Deceased)
The suit was filed by Dr.S.Vijaya Bharati (Deceased) against Mr.T.S.Ramalingam (Deceased) and others for infringement of copyright concerning the literary work "Amaran Kadhai". After nearly a decade, the parties entered into a compromise agreement.
Shamoil Ahmad Khan v.Falguni Shah And 3 Ors
The plaintiff, a writer, filed a notice of motion seeking temporary injunction against the defendants for telecasting or adapting their web series titled 'Singardaan', claiming both copyright infringement and passing off. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants copied not only the title but also the entire plot and characters from his original story. The court ultimately decided to set aside the request for a full injunction, directing the parties toward trial while imposing interim restraints.
Trustees, Jesus Redeems Ministries v.The Bible Society of India
The plaintiff Trust printed the Holy Bible in Tamil language. The defendant sent a Cease and Desist notice alleging copyright infringement. The plaintiff argued that no existing copyright subsists in the joint authorship work (Bower Version) after the statutory period, and the threat was groundless. The court ruled in favor of the plaintiff.
Transformative Learning Solutions Pvt. Ltd. v.Pawajot Kaur Baweja
The plaintiffs filed a suit seeking permanent injunction to restrain the defendants, former employees, from disclosing confidential information, using proprietary content (including copyright), and competing in Ayurveda. The dispute centered on whether the plaintiffs could refuse to share the list of customers with the defendants, despite claiming rights over that data.
Radio Next Webcastion Pvt. Ltd. v.Union Of India And Anr.
Radio Next Webcastion Pvt. Ltd. challenged an administrative order that declined to list its application under Section 31D of the Copyright Act before the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB). The denial was based on the absence of a dedicated technical member for copyright matters. The Delhi High Court examined whether the IPAB, which is primarily constituted under the Trade Marks Act, could exercise jurisdiction over copyright issues. The court held that due to statutory amendments, the existing Appellate Board has sufficient jurisdiction and can proceed with examining copyright applications despite the temporary vacancy in specialized membership.
Brihan Karan Sugar Syndicate Private Limited v.Karmaveer Shankarrao Kale Shahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited
This appeal before the Bombay High Court challenged a trial court order that restrained the appellants from using the artistic label 'Military Santra' for selling country liquor. The appellants argued that the respondent-plaintiff had prior knowledge of the label since 2005 and was therefore acquiescent, invalidating the injunction. Furthermore, they contended that their own usage since 1975 established their copyright in the artwork. The High Court allowed the appeal, setting aside the restrictive order and directing the trial court to expedite the disposal of the main Copyright Suit.
The Chancellor, Masters & Scholars Of University of Oxford v.Rameshwari Photocopy Services
The dispute concerned Rameshwari Photocopy Services copying and binding pages from copyrighted academic publications (Oxford/Cambridge University Press) for students at Delhi School of Economics. The High Court set aside the previous judgment, finding that triable issues of fact existed regarding the scope of permitted photocopying.
The Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. v.Entertainment Network (India) Ltd.
This case involved disputes arising from a license agreement between The Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (a Copyright Society) and Entertainment Network (India) Ltd. (an FM radio station operator). The core dispute centered on whether the claimant needed a license to broadcast copyrighted musical works, and subsequent claims regarding royalty payments and refunds. The Bombay High Court reviewed the arbitral award, ultimately setting aside one part of it due to lack of jurisdiction while allowing the petition filed by the Copyright Society.
Indian Performing Rights Society Ltd. v.Sanjay Dalia & Anr.
The dispute concerned the proper territorial jurisdiction for filing a suit related to copyright infringement. The appellant (IPRS Ltd.) argued that Section 62 of the Copyright Act conferred a right to file a suit where it carries on business, regardless of the cause of action's location. The Supreme Court ultimately held that while a plaintiff can sue where they carry on business, if the cause of action also arises there, they must file in that place, dismissing the appeals.
Eicher Goodearth Pvt Ltd v.Krishna Mehta & Ors
Eicher Goodearth Pvt Ltd filed a suit seeking permanent injunction against Krishna Mehta & Ors, alleging that the defendants were illegally imitating and selling products featuring motifs and designs similar to those owned by Eicher Goodearth. The plaintiff claimed ownership of various designer collections like Serai and Falcon, asserting their rights under copyright and design laws. The court examined the similarity between the parties' products and the alleged deceptive use of intellectual property.
M/s. Innovativ Dezines v.M/s. Wooltop Design Private Limited
M/s. Innovativ Dezines appealed a previous order and decree regarding a suit against M/s. Wooltop Design Private Limited. The appellant sought to set aside the earlier judgment. Ultimately, the senior counsel for the appellant agreed to withdraw the appeal with liberty to raise all pleas on merits in the written statement.
Institute For Inner Studies & Ors. v.Charlotte Anderson & Ors.
The plaintiffs, representing the estate of Master Choa Kok Sui, filed suit alleging that defendants were infringing on their copyrights by conducting courses and selling materials related to Pranic Healing. The core dispute centered on whether the techniques themselves or the associated literature were protected under copyright law. The court issued an interim order clarifying that while defendants could perform the techniques without using the plaintiffs' copyrighted material, they were restricted from using the Master's name in a way that suggested unauthorized affiliation.
Urooj Ahmed v.Preethi Kitchen Appliances Private Limited
The appellant, Urooj Ahmed, filed an Original Side Appeal challenging the single judge's decision to dismiss an application seeking rejection of the plaint on grounds of lack of territorial jurisdiction. The suit involved claims of design infringement and passing off under the Designs Act, 2000. The High Court dismissed the appeal, upholding the lower court's order regarding maintainability.
Asha Audio Company And Anr. v.Om Prakash Sonik & Ors.
Asha Audio Company filed a suit seeking royalties from a copyright society (Respondent No. 4), arguing that Section 19(9) and 19(10) entitle authors to equal shares of royalties, even outside cinematographic films. The dispute centered on the re-registration process of the society, where a show cause notice was issued regarding non-payment of royalties, leading the petitioner to seek an interim injunction against disbursement.
Copyright infringement or licensing dispute?
From digital piracy to content licensing, Arctic's copyright practice covers enforcement, licensing structuring, and fair-use defences.