M/S Thind Motion Films Private Limited v. Ishdeep Randhawa and Others

o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o 118o o o o o o o oooCRoNo.2780oofo2023o Dateoofodecision:o04.05.2023o M/soThindoMotionoFilmsoPrivateoLimitedoooo o o o o o o o o o o o ....Petitionerooo V/so o IshdeepoRandhawaoandoothersoooo o o o o o o o o o o o ....Respondentso o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVIKASoSURIoo Presento:o Mr.oAkshayoBhan,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Mr.oAmandeepoSinghoTalwar,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo *****o VIKASoSURI,oJ.oo o o ThisoisoaopetitionopreferredounderoArticleo227oofotheoConstitutiono ofo Indiao challengingo theo ordero datedo 01.05.2023o passedo byo Civilo Judgeo (JunioroDivision),oLudhianaowherebyoex-parteoad-interimoinjunctionohasobeeno passedo againsto theo defendantso thereino fromo releasingo theo filmo "Jodio Terio Meri"oono05.05.2023oi.e.otomorrow.oo o o Theofactsoinobriefoareothatofatheroofotheoplaintiffsoviz.oGurdevo SinghoRandhawa,owasodirectoroofoGurdevfilms,owhichoisoproduceroofoTVo serials,odocumentaries,otele-films,ofilms,omotionopicturesoandoADofilms.ooHeo hado decidedo too makeo motiono filmo ono theo biographyo ofo 'Amaro Singho ChamkilaoandoBibioAmarjotoKaur.'ooHeohadoenteredointooanoagreementowitho theo widowo ofo Amaro Singho Chamkilao ando theo writingo ino thato regardo waso executedoono12.10.2012owherebyosheohadograntedopermissionoonobehalfoofo herofamilyotoomakeotheofilmoandoassuredofullocooperation.oInoconsiderationo thereof,osheohadoreceivedoaosumoofoRs.5,00,000/-oandotransferredoallorightsotoo GurdevoSingh.ooItowasostipulatedothatotheoagreementowillobeobindingoonotheo o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 2o o heirsoasowell.oGurdevoSinghoRandhawaodiedoono03.11.2022oandoisosurvivedo byo hiso widowo Smt.o Jaspreeto Kauro ando theo plaintiffso namelyo Ishdeepo RandhawaoandoSanjotoRandhawa.ooo o o Ito iso furthero pleadedo thato theo plaintiffso cameo too knowo thato GurmailoKauroareomaking/preparingotheofilmoonobiographyoofoAmaroSingho Chamkilao ando Bibio Amarjoto Kauro ino associationo witho M/so Relianceo Entertainment,o Imitiazo Ali,o Diljito Dosanjo ando Parineetio Chopra.o o Theo plaintiffsoearlierofiledooneocivilosuitotitledoIshdeepoRandhawaoandoanotherovs.o GurmailoKauroandoothers,oagainstotheoaforesaidopersons,owhichoisopendingoino theoCourtoofoHarsimranjitoSingh,oCiviloJudgeo(SenioroDivision),oLudhiana.ooIto iso pleadedo thato ino theo saido case,o Gurmailo Kauro ando M/so Relianceo Entertainmentohaveoappearedoandofiledowrittenostatement.ooDuringopendencyo ofotheosaidocivilosuit,otheoplaintiffsocameotooknowofromoonlineoandoothero sourcesothatoanotherofilmonamelyo'JodioTerioMeri'oisoalsoobeingopreparedoando isoscheduledofororeleaseoono05.05.2023.ooo o o Inotheoaforesaidobackdrop,otheoplaintiff-respondentoNos.1oando2o institutedotheopresentosuitoagainstotheodefendant-respondentoNos.3otoo6oaso welloasotheopetitioner,obyowronglyomentioningotheopetitioneroasoDaljitoMotiono Filmso(defendantoNo.2).ooItowasoaverredothereinothatotheyohaveonoorightotoo make/prepareotheosaidofilmoduringotheosubsistenceoofotheoagreementobetweeno theoplaintiffsoandoGurmailoKauro(defendantoNo.3).ooItoisoalsooaverredothatotheo afore-noticedofilmoisobasedoandoinfluencedobyotheobooko'AwazoMardioNahi'o authoredobyoSh.oGulzaroSinghoShonki.ooItoisofurtheroaverredothatotheoconcepto isoalsoocopiedoandoinspiredofromotheoaforesaidobookoandotheomainoactor/heroo inobothotheofilmsoisodefendanto-oDiljitoDosanj.ooo o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 3o o o o Theosuitowasoinstitutedoono01.05.2023oalongowithotheoapplicationo underoOrdero39oRuleo1oando2oCPCoforograntoofoad-interimoinjunction.oOnotheo sameo day,o ano ex-parteo ad-interimo injunctiono waso grantedo wherebyo theo defendantso wereo restrainedo fromo releasingo theo filmo 'Jodio Terio Meri'o ono

05.05.2023,oexceptoinodueocourseoofolawotillotheonextodateoofohearingoi.e.o

08.05.2023.ooItoisonotableothatoformalonoticeoofotheosuitoorotheoapplicationoforo ad-interimoinjunctionohasonotobeenoorderedotoobeoissuedobyotheoimpugnedo orderobutoitowasomadeoclearothatoifoserviceoofodefendantsoisonotoaffectedobyo

08.05.2023o througho RC/ADo etc.o theno theo stayo ordero shallo stando vacatedo automatically.ooo o o Learnedo senioro counselo foro theo petitionero haso emphaticallyo urgedo thato perusalo ofo theo plainto (Annexureo P-3)o revealso thato theo briefo controversyoinvolvedoisothatotheoplaintiff-respondentoNos.1oando2oclaimotoobeo owneroofocopyorightoandootherobundleoofointellectualorightsoinotheostoryoofo singero Chamkila,o througho ano assignmento agreemento datedo 12.10.2012o enteredointoobetweenotheowifeoofotheodeceasedosingeroandotheopredecessor-in-interestoofotheoplaintiffs.ooItois,othus,ocontendedothatoinoviewoofotheospecificobaro containedoinoSectiono62oofotheoCopyoRightoAct,o1957o(foroshorto"theoAct"),o theosuitowasonotomaintainableobeforeotheoCiviloJudgeo(JunioroDivision),owhoo entertainedotheosameowhileopassingotheoimpugnedoorderodatedo01.05.2023.oo TheosaidoplaintocouldoonlyohaveobeenopresentedobeforeotheoDistrictoCourto havingo jurisdictiono i.e.o theo Principalo Civilo Courto ofo originalo jurisdiction.o Referenceoisomadeotootheodefinitionoofo'District'ocontainedoinoSectiono2(4)oofo o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 4o o o o Ono ao specifico queryo beingo puto too learnedo senioro counsel,o regardingo theo impugnedo ordero beingo appealableo undero theo provisionso ofo Ordero43oRuleo1(r)oCPC,oaocategoricalotwoofoldostandohasobeenotaken.oItoiso submittedothatoinoviewoofotheoembargoocontainedoinoSectiono62oofotheoAct,otheo proceedingsosufferofromojurisdictionaloerroroandoevenootherwise,oonoaccounto ofobasicoprinciplesoofonaturalojusticeohavingobeenoflouted,otheoimpugnedoordero hasoresultedoinogrossoandomanifestofailureoofojustice.oo o o Itowouldobeonecessaryotooreferotootheoavermentsomadeoinotheo plaintoandotheorelevantostatutoryoprovisionsotooappreciateofirstopartoofotheo argumentourgedobyolearnedoseniorocounsel,onoticedoabove.oo o o Theo headingo ofo theo suito ando theo prayero madeo ino theo plainto (AnnexureoP-3)oreadsoasothus:-o o "Suitoforograntoofojudgmentoandodecreeoforodeclarationotoo theoaffectothatoanyoagreement/writingoallegedlyoexecutedobyo defendanto No.3o ino favouro ofo othero defendantso oro subsequentoagreementoifoanyoforogivingotheorightsotoomakeo filmo ono biographyo of'Amaro Singho Chamkilao &o Bibio Amarjoto Kaur'o iso illegal,o nullo ando void,o merelyo wasteo paper,o ando iso noto havingo anyo valueo ino theo eyeso ofo lawo duringo theo subsistenceo Agreemento reducedo intoo Writingo datedo 12.10.2012o byo Gurmailo Kauro W/oo Amaro Singho Chamilkaoinofavouroofotheoplaintiffobyoreceivingotheoentireo considerationoamount.o o o Ando o Suitoforomandatoryoinjunctionodirectingotheodefendantsotoo produceo ono writingo reducedo betweeno theo defendantso foro givingo theo rightso too makeo filmo ono biographyo ofo 'Amaro SinghoChamkilao&oBibioAmarjotoKaur'o o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 5o o o forograntoofojudgmentoandodecreeoforopermanentoinjunctiono restrainingotheodefendantsotheiroagents,oattorney,oassociateso tooreleaseotheofilmo"JodioTerioMeri"oonobiographyoofo'Amaro SinghoChamkilao&oBibioAmarjotoKaur'oono05.05.2023oando duringotheopendencyoofosuitoasotheosameoisopreparedoduringo theosubsistenceoofoagreementoinofavouroofotheoplaintiff,oONo THEo BASISo OFo ORALo ANDo DOCUMENTARYo EVIDENCE.o o o ****o o o Ito is,o therefore,o prayedo thato decreeo foro granto foro declarationotootheoaffectothatoanyoagreement/writingoallegedlyo executedobyodefendantoNo.3oinofavouroofootherodefendantsooro subsequentoagreementoifoanyoforogivingotheorightsotoomakeofilmo onobiographyoofo'AmaroSinghoChamkilao&oBibioAmarjotoKaur'o isoillegal,onulloandovoid,omerelyowasteopaper,oandoisonotohavingo anyovalueoinotheoeyesoofolawoduringotheosubsistenceoAgreemento reducedointooWritingodatedo12.10.2012obyoGurmailoKauroW/oo AmaroSinghoChamkilaoinofavouroofotheoplaintiffobyoreceivingotheo entireo considerationo amount,o ando decreeo foro mandatoryo injunctiono directingo theo defendantso too produceo ono writingo reducedobetweenotheodefendantsoforogivingotheorightsotoomakeo filmoonobiographyoofo'AmaroSinghoChamkilao&oBibioAmarjoto Kaur'odecreeoforograntoofojudgmentoandodecreeoforopermanento injunctiono restrainingo theo defendantso theiro agents,o attorney,o associatesotooreleaseotheofilmo"JodioTerioMerioonobiographyoofo 'AmaroSinghoChamkilao&oBibioAmarjotoKaur'oono05.05.2023o andoduringotheopendencyosuitoasotheosameoisopreparedoduringotheo subsistenceoofoagreementoinofavouroofotheoplaintiffomayokindlyo beo awardedo ino favouro ofo theo plaintiffso ando againsto theo defendants.o o o AnyoadditionalooroalternativeoreliefoofothisoHon'bleoCourto deemso fito mayo alsoo beo awardedo ino favouro ofo theo plaintiffso againstotheodefendants."o o o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 6o o o o Toosubstantiateotheoargumentothatotheopresentosuitoisobasedoono copyrighto ando othero intellectualo rightso ino theo lifeo storyo ofo Amaro Singho Chamkilaoandotherefore,owasoinstitutedoinotheowrongoCourtoinolightoofotheo candidoprovisionsoofoSectiono62oofotheoAct,olearnedocounselowouldomakeo referenceotootheoavermentsoinoparaoNos.o4,o6,o8,o9oando12oofotheoplaint,owhicho readoasounder:-o

4.o oThatotheodefendantoNo.3otoogiveofullorightsotooGurdevo SinghoandohisoLRsohadoenteredointooanoagreementodatedo

12.10.2012o ando grantedo fullo right/intellectualo propertyo rightsoonotheobiographyoofoAmaroSinghoChamikla,o'Filmo meanso theo motiono pictureo ono theo biographyo ofo Amaro Singho Chamikla,o intellectualo propertyo righto meanso allo intellectualopropertyorightoincludingotantamountounitedotoo copyo rights,o tradeo mark,o patent,o digitalo rightso ando allo othero amalgamso rightso aso areo communallyo undero applicableo lawo ino Indiao ando othero jurisdictiono ando ancillaryorights.oItohasobeenofurtheroagreedouponobetweeno theosaidopartiesohereinothatoconsiderationoofoacquiringotheo rightoofooriginalofilmomakingoonotheobiographyolifeoofoSh.o AmaroSinghoChamkilaoisoacquiredobyoSh.oGurdevoSingho Randhawa.o o Theo entireo considerationo aso mentionedo ino agreementohasobeenopaid.oItohasoalsoobeenoagreedothatoallo L.R.oofoGurdevoSinghowillobeoentitledotoorecipientoofoanyo considerationo ofo thiso agreemento ino theo saido agreemento subsequentlyo oro ino future.o o Sh.o Gurdevo Singho waso sufferingo fromo hypertensiono ando diedo aftero prolongo illness.oo o***o

6.o ThatoearlieroplaintiffocameotooknowothatodefendantoNo.3o (Gurmailo Kauro aso defendanto No.1o ino thato suit)o ino connivanceo witho (2)o M/so Relianceo Entertainment,o (3)o ImitiazoAli,o(4)oDiljitoDosanjo&o(5)oParineetioChopraoareo making/preparingotheo filmoonotheobiographyoofo'Amaro SinghoChamkilao&oBibioAmarjotoKaur'.ooInotheosaidofilmo o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 7o o theodefendantoNo.2oisoaoProducer,odefendantoNo.3oisoao Director/ProduceroandodefendantoNos.4oando5oareoActoro andoActresso ofotheosaidoallegedofilm.ooOnoenquiryotheo plaintiffocameotooknowothatodefendantoNo.1ohasosignedo writingoinofavouroofodefendantsoandogivenotheorightsotoo makeo theo filmo ono theo biographyo ofo 'Amaro Singho Chamkilao &o Bibio Amarjoto Kaur'.o o Soo theo plaintiffo approachedotheodefendantsoandoshowedotheowritingodatedo

12.10.2012o executedo byo Smt.o Gurmailo Kauro ino favouro theirofatheroSh.oGurdevoSinghoRanadhawa,oandofurthero requestedothemotoodeclareotheoallegedoagreement/writingo allegedlyo executedo byo defendanto No.1o ino favouro ofo defendantsoasoillegal,onulloandovoid,omerelyowasteopapero ando noto too acto upono theo same.o o Ato thato timeo theo defendantsoassuredonototoomakeoanyofilmoonotheo'Amaro Singho Chamkilao &o Bibio Amarjoto Kaur'o ando furthero assuredotootearotheoagreement/writing,obutocunninglyotheyo didonotoactedouponotheosame.ooSootheoplaintiffsohaveofiledo oneocivilosuitotitledo"IshdeepoRandhawaoandoanotherovs.o GurmailoKauroandoothers"oagainstotheoaboveosaidopersonso whicho iso pendingo theo courto ofo Sh.o Harsimranito Singh,o CJ(SD),o Ludhianao ando theo saido courto grantedo theo stayo orderoinofavouroofotheoplaintiffoandorestrainedoGurmailo Kauiroandoothersotooreleaseoanyofilmoonotheobiographyoofo 'AmaroSinghoChamkilao&oBibioAmarjotoKaur'ovideoordero datedo21.03.2023,otheosaidosuitoisostillopendingobeforeotheo saido courto ando nowo fixedo foro 03.05.2023o foro filingo replication.o o Theo copyo ofo theo plainto ando ordero iso attached.oo o***o

8.o Thatothereafteroduringotheopendencyoofotheoaboveocivilo suitoIshdeepoRandhawaoVs.oGurmailoKauroandoothers,otheo plaintiffo furthero cameo too knowo fromo onlineo ando othero sourcesothatooneoanotherofilmonamelyo'JodioTerioMeri'oiso alsoobeingopreparedobyotheodefendantsoinotheopresentocaseo inocollusionowithoeachootheroandoareogoingotooreleaseotheo o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 8o o sameoono05.05.2023.ooTheodefendantsohaveonoorightotoo prepareo theo saido filmo duringo theo subsistenceo ofo theo agreemento betweeno theo plaintiffso ando defendanto No.3,o theosaidoactoonotheopartoofotheodefendantsoisototallyoillegalo andotheyohaveotakenotheolawoinotheirohands.ooItoisoworthotoo mentionohereothatotheoaboveosaidofilmonamelyo'JodioTerio Meri'oisobasedoandoinfluencedobyoaoBookonamelyo"Awazo MardioNahi'owrittenobyoauthoroSh.oGulzaroSinghoShonki.oo Theodefendantsoinohurriedomanneroareogoingotooreleaseo theosameoono05.05.2023.oItoisofurtheroworthotoomentiono hereothatotheodefendantsowithomalafideointentionochangeo theo nameo Amaro Chamkilao witho Amaro Sitrao (Diljito Dosanj)oandoAmarjotoKaurowithoKamaljotoKauro(Nimrato Khera).ooTheoconceptoisoalsoocopiedoandoinspiredofromo booko"awazoMardioNahi'ooSomeoofotheoimportantopageso areoasounder:-o PageoNo.o26o Paragrapho No.2o –o Amaro Singho Chamkilao meetingo hiso friendo too discusso theiro futureo planso outsideo theoliquorostoreo PageoNo.31oo Howo Chamkilao waso calledo ino Schoolotoosingowhenoheowasoinofirsto grade.oo PageoNo.47o Wheno Amaro Singho Chamkilao ando Amarjoto Kaur'so firsto programmeo gotocancelled.oo PageoNo.48oo Amarjoto Kauro iso cookingo foro Chamkilao ando doingo rehearsalso ontehoroofotop.o LastoSceneoo Whereo Amaro Singho Chamkilao waso filmizedoasodeadoinosimilaromanner.oo o InotheosaidofilmsosomeotitleoofotheoCassettesoshownoinotheo moveoareosimilaroandorelevantotoocassettesoreleasedobyo 'AmaroSinghoChamkilao&oBibioAmarjotoKaur',oduringo lifeotime.oPhotosoattached.oItoisofurtheroworthotoomentiono o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 9o o hereothatoinobothotheofilmsotheomainoactor/HerooisoDiljito Dosanjoandoheoisoveryowelloconversantowithoallotheofactso ofobothotheofilms.ooTheoplaintiffoagainometotheodefendantso andoagainorequested,obutotheodefendantsopaidonooheedotoo theogenuineorequestsoofotheoplaintifforatherothreatenedotheo plaintiff,o soo theo plaintiffo haso noo efficaciouso remedyo exceptotoobringothisosuit.oo

9.o Thato theo plaintiffo requestedo theo defendantso too produceo theo writingo reducedo betweeno theo defendantso wherebyo givingotheorightsotoomakeofilmoonobiographyoofo'Amaro Singho Chamkilao &o Bibio Amarjoto Kaur'o buto theo defendantso totallyo failedo too handovero theo sameo too theo plaintiff.oItoisoworthotoomentionohereothatodefendantNo.4o Dilito Dosanjo beingo actoro signedo theo twoo contractso foro preparingo filmso ono theo biographyo ofo Amaro Singho ChamiklaoandoAmarjotoKaur,ooneocontractoisowithoM/so Relianceo Entertainmento andanothero witho M/so Rhythmo BoysoEntertainmentoPvt.oLtdoEtc.ooThisofactoitselfodeclareo GurmailoKauroandoDiljitoDosanjoinoconnivanceowithoeacho otherohatchedoaoconspiracyojustotooearnotheo moneyobyo adoptingoillegalomeansoonotheogoodwilloofodeadopersons.oo o***o

12.ooThatocauseoofoactionoaroseotootheoplaintiffsoonotheodateo whenodefendantoNo.3oandoSh.oGurdevoSinghoRandhawao enteredointooanoagreement/writingodatedo12.10.2012,oono theodateowhenoSh.oGurdevoSinghoRandhawaoapproachedo GurmailoKauroforotheocontentsoonteholifeoofo'AmaroSingho Chamkilao &o Bibio Amarjoto Kaur'o ando theno duringo lifeo timepicturizedosomeosongsoandosceneoonotheobiographyo ofo'AmaroSinghoChamkilao&oBibioAmarjotoKaur'oando thenoduringolifeotimeopicturizedosomeosongsoandosceneo onteho biographyo ofo 'Amaro Singho Chamkilao &o Bibio Amarjoto Kaur'o ato USA/Canadao ono theo dateo wheno Sh.o Gurdevo Singho Randhawao died,o ono theo dateo plaintiffso approachedotheodefendantoNo.1oandoshowedotheowritingo datedo12.10.2012oandorequestedotoodiscloseobiographyoofo o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 10o o 'Amaro Singho Chamkilao &o Bibio Amarjoto Kaur'o ono theo dateo wheno theo previouso suito titledo Ishdeepo Singho Randhawaoandoanotherovs.oGurmailoKauroandothersowaso filed,obutoheoputotheomatteroonooneopretextoorotheoothers,o onotheodateowhenotheodefendantoNo.1owithoutoanyorighto enteredo intoo ano agreement/writingo ino favouro ofo M/so Relianceo Entertainmento ando theyo startedo makingo filmo withotheohelpoofoDiljitoDosanjoandoParineetioChopra,otheo dateowhenoplaintiffsoonocomingotooknowoaboutotheoaboveo saidofactsofiledotheoCiviloSuitoandoonotheodateowhenotheo civilocourtograntedostayoorderoonotheoreleaseoofofilmoono theobiographyoofo'AmaroSinghoChamkilao&oBibioAmarjoto Kaur',oonotheodateowhenotheoplaintiffsofurtherocameotoo knowo thato defendantso ino connivanceo witho eacho othero preparedoanotheromoveoinotitleo"JodioTerioMeri"oonotheo dateowhenotheoplaintiffocameotooknowoaboutopreparingoofo movieounderotitleo"JodioTerioMeri'oonotheodateowhenotheo plaintiffso requestedo theo defendantso noto too releaseo filmo underotitleo"JodioTerioMeri',obutotheodefendantsopaidonoo heedotootheogenuineorequestsoofotheoplaintiffoandorathero threatenedo too plaintiffso too releaseo theo sameo ono

05.05.2023,o theo threatso ofo theo defendantso areo stillo continue.oo o o o o Theo followingo statutoryo provisionso wouldo beo relevanto too appreciateotheocontentionsoraisedoonobehalfoofotheopetitioner:o "Sectiono2o oo(y)oo "work"omeansoanyoofotheofollowingoworks,o o namely,―o o (i)oaoliterary,odramatic,omusicalooroartisticowork;o o (ii)oaocinematographofilm;o o (iii)oaosoundorecording;o o o o 13.o Workso ino whicho copyrighto subsists.―(1)o Subjecto too theo provisionso ofo thiso sectiono ando theo othero o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 11o o provisionsoofothisoAct,ocopyrightoshallosubsistothroughouto Indiaoinotheofollowingoclassesoofoworks,othatoisotoosay,―o

(a)ooriginaloliterary,odramatic,omusicaloando artisticoworks;o

(b)ocinematographofilms;oando

(c)osoundorecording.o o o (2)oCopyrightoshallonotosubsistoinoanyoworkospecifiedo ino sub-sectiono (1),o othero thano ao worko too whicho theo provisionsoofoSectiono40ooroSectiono41oapply,ounless,―o

(i)oo inotheocaseoofoaopublishedowork,otheoworkoiso firstopublishedoinoIndia,oorowhereotheoworkoiso firstopublishedooutsideoIndia,otheoauthoroisoato theo dateo ofo sucho publication,o oro ino ao caseo whereotheoauthorowasodeadoatothatodate,owasoato theotimeoofohisodeath,oaocitizenoofoIndia;o

(ii)oo inotheocaseoofoanounpublishedoworkootherothano aoworko ofo architecture,o theo authoro iso ato theo dateoofomakingoofotheoworkoaocitizenoofoIndiao orodomiciledoinoIndia;oano

(iii)ooino theo caseo ofo aoo worko ofo architecture,o theo workoisolocatedoinoIndia.o o o Explanation.―Inotheocaseoofoaoworkoofojointo authorship,otheoconditionsoconferringocopyrightospecifiedoino thisosub-sectionoshallobeosatisfiedobyoallotheoauthorsoofotheo work.o o o (3)oCopyrightoshallonotosubsist―o

(a)oo ino anyo cinematographo filmo ifo ao substantialo parto ofo theo filmo iso ano infringemento ofo theo copyrightoinoanyootherowork;o

(b)oo inoanyosoundorecordingomadeoinorespectoofoao literary,o dramatico oro musicalo work,o ifo ino makingo theosoundo recording,o copyrighto ino o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 12o o o (4)oTheocopyrightoinoaocinematographofilmooroaosoundo recordingo shallo noto affecto theo separateo copyrighto ino anyo workoinorespectoofowhichooroaosubstantialopartoofowhich,otheo film,ooroasotheocaseomayobe,otheosoundorecordingoisomade.o o (5)oInotheocaseoofoaoworkoofoarchitecture,ocopyrighto shallosubsistoonlyoinotheoartisticocharacteroandodesignoando shallonotoextendotooprocessesooromethodsoofoconstruction.o o o 14.oMeaningoofocopyright.―Forotheopurposesoofothiso Act,o"copyright"omeansotheoexclusiveorightosubjectotootheo provisionsoofothisoAct,otoodoooroauthoriseotheodoingoofoanyoofo theofollowingoactsoinorespectoofoaoworkooroanyosubstantialo partothereof,onamely:―o

(a)oinotheocaseoofoaoliterary,odramaticooromusicalowork,onoto beingoaocomputeroprogramme,―o

(i)oo too reproduceo theo worko ino anyo materialo formo includingo theo storingo ofo ito ino anyo mediumo byo electronicomeans;o

(ii)oo tooissueocopiesoofotheoworkotootheopubliconotobeingo copiesoalreadyoinocirculation;o

(iii)ootooperformotheoworkoinopublic,oorocommunicateoito tootheopublic;o

(iv)o too makeo anyo cinematographo filmo oro soundo recordingoinorespectoofotheowork;o

(v)oo toomakeoanyotranslationoofotheowork;o

(vi)ootoomakeoanyoadaptationoofotheowork;o

(vii)ootoodo,oinorelationotooaotranslationooroanoadaptationo ofotheowork,oanyoofotheoactsospecifiedoinorelationo tootheoworkoinosub-clauseso(i)otoo(vi);o

(b)oinotheocaseoofoaocomputeroprogramme,―o

(i)oo toodooanyoofotheoactsospecifiedoinoclauseo(a);o

(ii)oo tooselloorogiveoonocommercialorentalooroofferoforo saleo oro foro commercialo rentalo anyo copyo ofo theo computeroprogramme:o o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 13o o o o Providedothatosuchocommercialorentalodoesonoto applyoinorespectoofocomputeroprogrammesowhereotheo programmeo itselfo iso noto theo essentialo objecto ofo theo rental.o

(c)oinotheocaseoofoanoartisticowork,―o

(i)oo too reproduceo theo worko ino anyo materialo formo including―o

(A)o theo storingo ofo ito ino anyo mediumo byo electronicoorootheromeans;ooro

(B)o depictiono ino three-dimensionso ofo ao two-dimensionalowork;ooro

(C)o depictiono ino two-dimensionso ofo ao three-dimensionalowork;o

(ii)oo toocommunicateotheoworkotootheopublic;o

(iii)ootooissueocopiesoofotheoworkotootheopubliconotobeingo copiesoalreadyoinocirculation;o

(iv)ootooincludeotheoworkoinoanyocinematographofilm;o

(v)oo toomakeoanyoadaptationoofotheowork;o

(vi)ootoodooinorelationotooanoadaptationoofotheoworkoanyo ofo theo actso specifiedo ino relationo too theo workoino sub-clauseso(i)otoo(iv);o

(d)oinotheocaseoofoaocinematographofilm,―o

(i)oo toomakeoaocopyoofotheofilm,oincluding―o

(A)ooaophotographoofoanyoimageoformingoparto thereof;ooro

(B)oo storingoofoitoinoanyomediumobyoelectronico orootheromeans;o

(ii)oo tooselloorogiveoonocommercialorentalooroofferoforo saleooroforosuchorental,oanyocopyoofotheofilm;o

(iii)ootoocommunicateotheofilmotootheopublic;o

(e)oinotheocaseoofoaosoundorecording,―o

(i)oo too makeo anyo othero soundo recordingo embodyingo itoincludingo storingo ofo ito ino anyo mediumo byo electronicoorootheromeans;o o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 14o o

(ii)oo tooselloorogiveoonocommercialorentalooroofferoforo saleo oro foro sucho rental,o anyo copyo ofo theo soundo recording;o

(iii)ootoo communicateo theo soundo recordingo too theo public.o o Explanation.―Foro theo purposeso ofo thiso section,o ao copyowhichohasobeenosoldoonceoshallobeodeemedotoobeoao copyoalreadyoinocirculation.]o o o o 16.oNoocopyrightoexceptoasoprovidedoinothisoAct.― Noopersonoshallobeoentitledotoocopyrightooroanyosimilarorighto inoanyowork,owhetheropublishedoorounpublished,ootherwiseo thanounderoandoinoaccordanceowithotheoprovisionsoofothisoActo oroofoanyootherolawoforotheotimeobeingoinoforce,obutonothingo inothisosectionoshallobeoconstruedoasoabrogatingoanyorightooro jurisdictionotoorestrainoaobreachoofotrustooroconfidence.o o o o 55.o Civilo remedieso foro infringemento ofo copyright.―(1)o Whereo copyrighto ino anyo worko haso beeno infringed,o theo ownero ofo theo copyrighto shall,o excepto aso otherwiseo providedo byo thiso Act,o beo entitledo too allo sucho remedieso byo wayo ofo injunction,o damages,o accountso ando otherwiseo aso areo oro mayo beo conferredo byo lawo foro theo infringementoofoaoright:o o o Providedothatoifotheodefendantoprovesothatoatotheodateo ofotheoinfringementoheowasonotoawareoandohadonooreasonableo groundoforobelievingothatocopyrightosubsistedoinotheowork,o theoplaintiffoshallonotobeoentitledotooanyoremedyootherothano anoinjunctionoinorespectoofotheoinfringementoandoaodecreeoforo theowholeooropartoofotheoprofitsomadeobyotheodefendantobyo theosaleoofotheoinfringingocopiesoasotheocourtomayoinotheo circumstancesodeemoreasonable.o o o (2)oWhere,oinotheocaseoofoaoliterary,odramatic,omusicalo oroartisticowork,oor,osubjectotootheoprovisionsoofosub-sectiono o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 15o o

(3)oofoSectiono13,oaocinematographofilmoorosoundorecording,o aonameopurportingotoobeothatoofotheoauthor,oorotheopublisher,o asotheocaseomayobe,oofothatowork,oappearsoonocopiesoofotheo worko aso published,o or,o ino theo caseo ofo ano artistico work,o appearedoonotheoworkowhenoitowasomade,otheopersonowhoseo nameosooappearsooroappearedoshall,oinoanyoproceedingoino respecto ofo infringemento ofo copyrighto ino sucho work,o beo presumed,ounlessotheocontraryoisoprovided,otoobeotheoauthoro orotheopublisheroofotheowork,oasotheocaseomayobe.o o o (3)oTheocostsoofoallopartiesoinoanyoproceedingsoino respectoofotheoinfringementoofocopyrightoshallobeoinotheo discretionoofotheocourt.o o o o 62.o Jurisdictiono ofo courto overo matterso arisingo undero thiso Chapter.―(1)o Everyo suito oro othero civilo proceedingo arisingo undero thiso Chaptero ino respecto ofo theo infringementoofocopyrightoinoanyoworkoorotheoinfringemento ofoanyootherorightoconferredobyothisoActoshallobeoinstitutedoino theodistrictocourtohavingojurisdiction.o o (2)o Foro theo purposeo ofo sub-sectiono (1),o ao "districto courtohavingojurisdiction"oshall,onotwithstandingoanythingo containedoinotheoCodeoofoCiviloProcedure,o1908o(5oofo1908),o oro anyo othero lawo foro theo timeo beingo ino force,o includeo ao districtocourtowithinotheolocalolimitsoofowhoseojurisdiction,oato theotimeoofotheoinstitutionoofotheosuitoorootheroproceeding,o theopersonoinstitutingotheosuitoorootheroproceedingoor,owhereo thereoareomoreothanooneosuchopersons,oanyoofothemoactuallyo andovoluntarilyoresidesoorocarriesoonobusinessooropersonallyo worksoforogain."o o o o Ao perusalo ofo theo aboveo provisionso showo thato meaningo ofo copyright,ocontainedoinoSectiono14,oisotheoexclusiveorightotoodoooroauthorizeo theodoingoofotheoactsospecifiedoinothatosection,oinorespectoofotheoworkooroanyo o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 16o o substantialopartothereof.o"Work"oisodefinedounderoSectiono2(y)otoomeanoao literary,odramatic,omusicalooroartisticowork;oaocinematographofilm;ooroaosoundo recording.ooo o o Theoplaintodoesonotoprimaofacieomakeoreferenceotooanyo"work"o witho regardo too whicho infringemento ofo copyrighto iso allegedo too haveo beeno pleaded,oasoperotheoargumentomadeoonobehalfoofotheopetitioner.ooMoreover,obyo virtueoofoSectiono16oofotheoAct,onoopersonoisoentitledotoocopyrightooroanyo similarorightoinoworkoexceptoasoprovidedoinotheoAct.ooMeaningothereby,otheo Actobeingoaoselfocontainedocode,oanyoactopurportedotoobeoactionableoclaimo againstoinfringementoofocopyrightowouldomandatorilyohaveotoobeowithinotheo fourocornersoofotheostatutoryoprovisions.ooo o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerowouldoreferotootheoprincipleso formulatedoonotheoexerciseoofoHighoCourt'sojurisdictionounderoArticleo227oofo theoConstitutionoofoIndiaoinoShalinioShyamoSethioandoothersovs.oRajendrao ShankeroPatel,o(2010)o8oSCCo329,owhichohadoalsoonoticedotheoprinciplesolaido downobyotheoConstitutionoBenchoofotheoApexoCourtoinoWaryamoSinghovs.o Amarnath,oAIRo1954oSCo215.oo o o Theosaidoprinciples,oalsoorecordoaowordoofocautionothatoHigho Courtso cannot,o ono theo dropo ofo hat,o ino exerciseo ofo itso powerso ofo superintendenceoundero Articleo227oofotheo Constitution,o acto aso ao Courto ofo appealooverotheoordersoofoCourtooroTribunalsosubordinateotooit.ooNorocanoit,oino exerciseoofotheosaidopower,oactoasoaoCourtoofoappealooverotheoordersoofoCourto orotribunalosubordinateotooit.ooInocasesowhereoanoalternativeostatutoryomodeoofo redressalohaveobeenoprovided,othatowouldoalsoooperateoasoaorestrainoonotheo exerciseo ofo thiso powero byo theo Higho Court.o o Ino exerciseo ofo powero ofo superintendence,oHighoCourtocannotointerfereotoocorrectomereoerrorsoofolawooro factojustobecauseoanotheroviewothanotheooneotakenobyotheoCourtosubordinateotoo o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 17o o itoisoaopossibleoview.ooItowasothusoheld,oinootherowordsotheojurisdictionohasotoo beoveryosparinglyoexercised.oTheopoweroofointerferenceounderoArticleo227oofo theoConstitutionoisotoobeokeptominimumotooensureothatowheeloofojusticeodoeso notocomeotoohaltoandotheofountainoofojusticeoremainopureoandounpollutedoino orderotoomaintainopublicoconfidenceoinotheofunctioningoofotheoTribunalsoando CourtsosubordinateotooHighoCourt.oo o o Ino Sandhanao Lodho vs.o Nationalo Insuranceo Co.o Ltd.o ando another,o(2003)o3oSCCo524,otheoApexoCourtowhileoexaminingotheoprovisionso ofotheorightoofostatutoryoappealounderoSectiono173oofotheoMotoroVehiclesoAct,o 1988oheldothatowhereoaostatutoryorightotoofileoanoappealohasobeenoprovidedofor,o itoisonotoopenotooHighoCourtotooentertainoaopetitionounderoArticleo227oofotheo Constitutiono ofo India.o o Ito waso observed,o thato theo supervisoryo jurisdictiono conferredo ono theo Higho Courtso undero Articleo 227o ofo theo Constitutiono iso confinedoonlyotooseeowhetheroanoinferiorocourtoorotribunalohasoproceededo withinoitsoparametersoandonototoocorrectoanoerroroapparentoonotheofactoofotheo record,omucholessoofoanoerroroofolaw.ooInoexercisingotheosupervisoryopowero underoArticleo227oofotheoConstitution,otheoHighoCourtodoesonotoactoasoano appellateocourtoorotheotribunal.ooItoisoalsoonotopermissibleotooaoHighoCourtoonoao petitionofiledounderoArticleo227oofotheoConstitutionotooreviewoororeweighotheo evidenceouponowhichotheoinferiorocourtoorotribunalopurportsotoohaveopassedo theoorderoorotoocorrectoerrorsoofolawoinotheodecision.oo o o InoJaioSinghoandoanotherovs.oMunicipaloCorporationoofoDelhio andoanother,o(2010)o9oSCCo385,oitowasoheldoasounder:-o o "15.o Weo haveo anxiouslyo consideredo theo submissionsoofotheolearnedocounsel.oBeforeoweoconsidero theo factualo ando legalo issueso involvedo herein,o weo mayo noticeocertainowellorecognizedoprinciplesogoverningotheo exerciseo ofo jurisdictiono byo theo Higho Courto undero o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 18o o Articleo227oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia.oUndoubtedlyotheo Higho Court,o undero thiso Article,o haso theo jurisdictiono too ensureothatoallosubordinateocourtsoasowelloasostatutoryooro quasio judicialo tribunals,o exerciseo theo powerso vestedo ino them,o withino theo boundso ofo theiro authority.o Theo Higho Courtohasotheopoweroandotheojurisdictionotooensureothato theyoactoinoaccordanceowithowelloestablishedoprinciplesoofo law.o Theo Higho Courto iso vestedo witho theo powerso ofo superintendenceoand/orojudicialorevision,oevenoinomatterso whereonoorevisionooroappealoliesotootheoHighoCourt.oTheo jurisdictiono undero thiso Articleo is,o ino someo ways,o widero thanotheopoweroandojurisdictionounderoArticleo226oofotheo ConstitutionoofoIndia.oItois,ohowever,owellotooremembero theowelloknownoadageothatogreaterotheopower,ogreaterotheo careoandocautionoinoexerciseothereof.oTheoHighoCourtois,o therefore,o expectedo too exerciseo sucho wideo powerso witho greatocare,ocautionoandocircumspection.oTheoexerciseoofo jurisdictiono musto beo withino theo wello recognisedo constraints.oItocanonotobeoexercisedolikeoao'bulloinoaochinao shop',o too correcto allo errorso ofo judgmento ofo ao court,o oro tribunal,oactingowithinotheolimitsoofoitsojurisdiction.oThiso correctionalojurisdictionocanobeoexercisedoinocasesowhereo ordersohaveobeenopassedoinograveoderelictionoofodutyooroino flagrantoabuseoofofundamentaloprinciplesoofolawoorojustice.oo o 16.oTheoHighoCourtocannotolightlyooroliberallyoacto aso ano appellateo courto ando re-appreciateo theo evidence.o Generally,oitocanonotosubstituteoitsoownoconclusionsoforo theo conclusionso reachedo byo theo courtso belowo oro theo statutory/quasio judicialo tribunals.o Theo powero too re-appreciateoevidenceowouldoonlyobeojustifiedoinorareoando exceptionalo situationso whereo graveo injusticeo wouldo beo doneounlessotheoHighoCourtointerferes.oTheoexerciseoofo suchodiscretionaryopowerowouldodependoonotheopeculiaro o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 19o o factsoofoeachocase,owithotheosoleoobjectiveoofoensuringothato thereoisonoomiscarriageoofojustice."o o o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitioneroisonotoinoaopositionotoodenyo fromotheorecordothatovideoimpugnedoorder,oex-parteoad-interimoinjunctiono wasograntedoonotheoprayeromadeoinotheoapplicationounderoOrdero39oRuleo1o ando2oCPCofiledoalongowithotheosuit.ooTheosaidoorderoisoappealableoinoviewoofo theocandidoprovisionsoofoOrdero43oRuleo1(r)oCPC.oo o o Whileoconsideringowhetheroanoexoparteoadointerimoinjunctiono orderoissuedounderoRuleo1ooroRuleo2oofoOrdero39oofotheoCiviloProcedureoCodeo isoappealableounderoOrdero43,oRuleo1(r),otheoFulloBenchoofotheoJammuoando Kashmiro Higho Courto ino M/so Astralo Traderso vs.o M/so Hajio Mohammado ShabanoDaroandoothers,oAIRo1982oJ&Ko124,oheldothatoanoexoparteoorderoiso asogoodoanoorderotooattractotheoprovisionsoofoOrdero43.oRuleo1o(r),oasoanoordero passedoafterohearingobothotheosides.ooFailureotoostateoreasonsoforoitocanobeonoo doubto ao goodogroundo foro oversettingo ano ordero ino appeal,o buto surelyo sucho failureo cannoto rendero theo ordero non-appealable.o Ifo theo intentiono ofo theo Legislatureowereotoomakeoonlyosuchoordersoappealableoasowereopassedoaftero hearingobothotheosides,othenonothingocouldohaveopreventedoitofromosayingosoo inoclearoandounequivocaloterms.ooTheolanguageoofoOrdero43,oRuleo1(r)oisotooo wideoandodistinctonototooadmitoofoanyointerpretationothatoitsoprovisionsowouldo beo attractedotoo onlyo thatoordero whicho haso beenopassedo byo theo courto aftero hearingobothotheopartiesoandocontainsoreasonsoforotheodecisionosoughtotoobeo conveyedothroughoit.oo o o Asoanoargumentoinodespair,oitoisosoughtotoobeourgedoonobehalfoofo theopetitionerothatotheostatutoryoappealoisonotoanoefficaciousoremedyoinolightoofo theofactothatotheoreleaseoisoscheduledoforo05.05.2023oandoanoex-parteoordero hasobeenopassedobyoaoCourt,owhichohasonoojurisdictionotooentertainotheosuit.ooo o CRoNo.2780oofo2023o o o o o o 20o o o o ThisoCourtoisoconsciousoofotheofactothatoanyoobservationomadeo touchingotheomeritsoofotheocaseoinotheseoproceedings,oisolikelyotooprejudiceo oneopartyoorotheootheroandothus,orefrainsofromoventuringointoothatoarena.o o o Nonetheless,oitoneedsotoobeonoticedothatotheosuitowasoinstitutedo ono01.05.2023oandotheoreleaseowasoscheduledoforo05.05.2023.oTheotrialoCourto hadoreasonableotimeotooaffectoserviceouponotheodefendants,obyooneooromoreo modesospecifiedounderoOrdero5oRuleo9(3)oCPC,oinsteadoofoconsideringotheo prayeroforoadointerimoinjunctionoexoparte.oo o o InoviewoofotheoaboveodiscussionoandotheolawosettledobyotheoApexo Court,oIoamoofotheoconsideredoopinionothatonooexceptionalocaseoisomadeoouto foroexerciseoofojurisdictionounderoArticleo227oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,o particularlyowhenotheopetitionerohasochosenotootakeoitsochanceobyoapproachingo thisoCourtofirst,oinsteadoofoavailingotheoremedyoofostatutoryoappealoagainstotheo impugnedoorderounderoSectiono104oreadowithoOrdero43oRuleo1(r)oCPC.oo o o Theopetitioner,oifosooadvised,omayostilloavailohisoremedyobeforeo theoloweroCourts,oinoaccordanceowitholaw.ooNeedlessotooobserveothatothiso orderowillonotocomeoinotheowayoofotheopetitioner,oifoitochoosesotooavailoremedyo ofoappealooroapproachotheotrialoCourt.oo o o Anyoobservationsomadeohereinaboveoshallonotobeoconstruedoaso anoexpressionoofoopinionoonotheomeritsoofotheocase.oo o o Theopresentorevisionopetitionoisoaccordinglyodisposedoof.oo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o oooooooo(VIKASoSURI)o o oo o o o o o ooooooooooooooJUDGEo Mayo04,o2023o Ajayo o o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo