In a noteworthy turn of events regarding a long-standing copyright case, the Delhi High Court has issued a temporary order preventing renowned composer Ilaiyaraaja from sharing or streaming songs from 134 films until further notice.
Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, who presided over the matter, stated that while Ilaiyaraaja owns the rights to his original musical compositions, these rights do not extend to the sound recordings found in film productions. The court clarified that the copyright for these recordings lies with the film producers and, where applicable, with Saregama India Ltd.
The court emphasized that Ilaiyaraaja’s rights pertain solely to the musical work itself, which encompasses the composition, excluding lyrics and the sound recording. Importantly, these rights do not signify ownership over the entire soundtrack of any film.
This dispute arose when Saregama asserted that it had gained ownership rights through agreements signed with producers of various films between 1976 and 2001. The company claimed these contracts granted them rights to the sound recordings as well as the musical and literary elements incorporated within the films.
Saregama recently raised concerns after finding that songs from these films were available on multiple digital platforms, like Amazon Music and Apple iTunes. They alleged that Ilaiyaraaja claimed ownership over the content found on these platforms.
Upon reviewing the case, the High Court noted that there was no disagreement about broadcasting songs from the films mentioned in the lawsuit. It indicated that, on a preliminary basis, this usage could be viewed as copyright infringement concerning the questioned sound recordings.
The interim order affects 134 films that mark various stages of Ilaiyaraaja’s acclaimed career, including classics like Annakkili (1976), 16 Vayathiniley (1977), Mullum Malarum (1978), Netrikkann (1981), and Raaja Paarvai (1981).
The case will continue in the Delhi High Court, where the copyright claims of both sides will be thoroughly examined before a final decision is made.
