The Delhi High Court has restrained music composer Ilaiyaraaja from exploiting and licensing Saregama's copyrighted sound recordings and musical works. This comes after the company sued the music composer over copyright infringement
Ilaiyaraaja
The Delhi High Court has reportedly granted an ex parte ad interim injunction in favour of Saregama India Limited. The court restrained noted music composer Ilaiyaraaja from exploiting or licensing certain copyrighted sound recordings and musical works claimed by the company.
Delhi High Court restrains Ilaiyaraaja
The order was passed by Justice Tushar Rao Gedela on February 13, 2026, during the hearing of a commercial suit filed by the music label. According to Bar and Bench, the court order read, “Defendant [Ilaiyaraaja], its partners or proprietors, licensees, assigns, officers, servants, agents, representatives, contractors, sister concerns and any other person working for and on behalf of the defendant are restrained from exploiting/ using/ issuing licenses for the plaintiff’s Copyrighted Works i.e. the sound recordings and literary and musical works forming a part of the said Cinematograph Films enlisted in Annexure A appended to this Order or making any claim of ownership to the third parties or issuing any license for exploitation in relation to the plaintiff’s Copyrighted Works."
Senior Advocate Chander M. Lall, appearing for Saregama, argued that under the Copyright Act, film producers are treated as the first owners of the music and sound recordings created for films unless there is a contract stating otherwise. He relied on assignment agreements executed by producers in favour of the company to assert Saregama's exclusive rights over the works.
After examining the plaint, documents and submissions, the Court found that Saregama had made out a prima facie case. It was observed that the assignment agreements and material placed on record indicated that the balance of convenience was in favour of the plaintiff and that continued exploitation could cause irreparable loss that may not be compensable monetarily.
Accordingly, the Court restrained Ilaiyaraaja, his agents, licensees and associates from using, exploiting or issuing licences in respect of the sound recordings, musical and literary works forming part of the films listed in the annexure to the order, or from making any ownership claims over them.
Lawsuit against Ilaiyaraaja
The suit alleges that in February 2026, Ilaiyaraaja began granting licences to third parties and uploading songs on platforms such as Amazon Music, iTunes and JioSaavn, while also claiming ownership over the works. Saregama contended that these acts amounted to infringement and created confusion regarding its legal title over the recordings.
Saregama reportedly told the Court that it owns copyrights in a large catalogue of film music and sound recordings across several Indian languages, based on assignment agreements that were executed with film producers between 1976 and 2001. The company argued that these agreements vested exclusive, worldwide, and perpetual rights to reproduce, license, and commercially exploit the works forming part of various cinematograph films.
The Court also issued a summons in the suit and directed the defendant to file a written statement within 30 days of receipt. Replies to the interim injunction application are to be filed within four weeks, with rejoinder, if any, within two weeks thereafter. The matter has been listed before the Court on April 2, 2026, while the Joint Registrar will take up the case on April 24, 2026, for completion of service and pleadings.
(With inputs from ANI)
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