Chennai: Madras high court has restrained Raj Television Network Ltd from using or communicating to the public by any mode whatsoever, sound recordings and images owned and controlled by music giant Sony Music Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd.
Justice M.M. Sundresh also restrained Raj Television from using films created with new visuals synchronized versions and sound recordings owned and controlled by Sony Music Entertainment.
The judge granted the interim injunction on the applications arising out of a suit filed by Sony Music. The judge rejected the application filed by Raj Television, which sought to reject the plaint filed by Sony Music.
According to Sony Music, it was in the business of acquiring and exploiting sound recordings, musical works, literary works, performances, audio visual content, creation of new cinematograph films/songs videos etc., for commercial gain. It usually acquires these rights by way of assignment deeds that it enters into with the original owners of the copyright.
While so, sometime in June 2015, it noticed that Raj TV, owned by Raj Television Network was broadcasting television shows in which sound recordings from its content were being re-sung by an artist to create new adapted sound recordings and were being synchronized with new visuals of the artist and dance performances to create films that get broadcasted as singing reality show or any other show and such show were then communicated to the public through the channel.
It also noticed that the channel was broadcasting television shows in which the performers dance to the sound recording from its content. The content that has been used and was being used in the production of the shows was without authorization and without obtaining any license. Therefore, it issued several notices, requesting Raj TV to obtain requisite license. However, there was no proper response. Hence, it filed this suit, Sony said.
