The Delhi HC ruled that copyright in sound recordings from 134 films belongs to the producer (Saregama), not the composer (Ilaiyaraaja), unless an express agreement reserves rights. This reinforces Section 17 of the Copyright Act, 1957 and the distinction between musical composition and sound recording as separate works. For exam aspirants: this clarifies IPR ownership in films—a key topic for Prelims and Mains.
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- ›Court: Delhi High Court (Justice Tushar Rao Gedela)
- ›Date of Order: July 1, 2026
- ›Target this Data: 134 films (since 1976) mentioned in the Delhi HC order.
- ›Target this Nodal Body: Delhi High Court (Justice Tushar Rao Gedela) - the court that issued the injunction.
- ›Target this Legal Point: Section 17, Section 13(4), and Section 2(d)(v) of the Copyright Act, 1957; also the SC judgment in IPRS vs. Eastern Indian Motion Pictures (1977).
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