Madras High Court
Nandagopal Chetty vs / on 5 February, 2020
Author: G.Jayachandran
Bench: G.Jayachandran
C.S.No.159 of 2014
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
Dated : 05.02.2020
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE G.JAYACHANDRAN
C.S.No.159 of 2014 and O.A.No.180 of 2014
1.Nandagopal Chetty
2.T.Rajagopalan .. Plaintiffs
/versus/
1.Sunil
P.A.Holder
Ponthara
2.M/s.Asianet Communication Ltd.,
Asianet Complex
Pulyarakonam P.O.
Thiruvananthapuram-695 573
3.Gemini Colour Laboratory
No.2, Vembuli Amman Koil Street
Virugambakkam
Chennai-600 078. .. Defendants
This Civil Suit is filed under Section 55 and 62 of the Indian
Copyright Act 1957 read with Order IV Rule 1 O.S. Rules and Order VII Rule 1
Civil Procedure Code 1 and 2 of Civil Procedure Code 1908 as amended,
praying for (a) for a declaration that the second plaintiff is the absolute
owner of the absolute entire World Negative rights by permanent
injunction restraining the defendants, their men, agents, servants
anybody on their behalf or assigns from in any manner from infringing
the copy rights and the exclusive rights assigned to 2nd plaintiff by deed
1/12
http://www.judis.nic.in
C.S.No.159 of 2014
of assignment dated 01.10.2013 of the suit picture (picture and sound)
Dubbing and Remaking Rights in all languages along with its copy right of
35 mm and 16 mm commercial and non-commercial, theatrical, non-
theatrical rights, Television rights in all Channels including National,
Regional, Metro, Channels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and its satellite and
entertainment channels, satellite Television broadcasting rights, private
communication, broadcasting, cable TV, Pay TV, Pay per view TV, Pay on
Demand, Direct to Home, Direct to user rights, MMDS, Video on Demand,
Wire, Wireless, IPTV, CCTV, airborne, highseas, rail borne, surface,
transport rights, All India Radio, FM Private Radio Broadcasting, Audio/DC
rights, Video copyrights including VCD, LD, DVD, Mini-HD, Blue Ray, Mp4,
HDCD, Internet/Web Technology, broadband rights, mobile, microchip,
ringtone rights, portal rights and by form of communication like signs,
signals, writing, pictures, images and sounds of all kinds by transmission
of electromagnetic waves through space or through cables intended to be
received by general public directly or indirectly through medium of relay
stations and all electric and electronic rights of present and future
inventions in the entire world including India of the said cinematograph
film for a perpetual period of Ninety nine years commencing from the
date of the agreement being 01.10.2013; b) by permanent injunction
restraining the defendants, their men, agents, servants, or their
representatives, anybody on their behalf or assigns from in any manner from
infringing the copyrights and exclusive rights assigned to the 2nd plaintiff by
deed of assignment dated 01.10.2013 in respect of the suit picture
“POONILAMAZHA” Malayalam Colour scope starring Prasanth, Thilagam and
others directed by Mr.Sunil, and also including the entire World Negative
rights (picture and sound) Dubbing and Remaking Rights in all languages
2/12
http://www.judis.nic.in
C.S.No.159 of 2014
along with its copy right of 35 mm and 16 mm commercial and non-
commercial, theatrical, non-theatrical rights, Television rights in all
Channels including National, Regional, Metro, Channels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and
its satellite and entertainment channels, satellite Television
broadcasting rights, private communication, broadcasting, cable TV, Pay
TV, Pay per view TV, Pay on Demand, Direct to Home, Direct to use
rights, MMDS, Video on Demand, Wire, Wireless, IPTV, CCTV, airborne,
highseas, rail borne, surface, transport rights, All India Radio, FM Private
Radio Broadcasting, Audio/DC rights, Video copyrights including VCD, LD,
DVD, Mini-HD, Blue Ray, MP4, HDCD, Internet/Web Technology,
broadband rights, mobile, microchip, ringtone rights, portal rights and
any form of communication like signs, signals, writing, pictures, images
and sounds of all kinds by transmission of electromagnetic waves through
space or through cables intended to be received by general public
directly or indirectly through medium of relay stations and all electric
and electronic rights of present and future inventions in the entire world
including India of the said cinematograph film for a perpetual period of
Ninety nine years commencing from the date of the agreement being
01.10.2013, and c) directing the defendants 1 and 2 to pay the damages of
Rs.5,00,000/- together with interest at the rate of 24% per annum from the
date of plaint till the date of realisation, caused to the plaintiffs by illegally
telecasting the suit picture “POONILAMAZHA” and thereby caused the
infringement of copy rights of the suit picture ““POONILAMAZHA”.
For Plaintiffs : Mr.E.Senthilkumar
For Defendants : Set Exparte
3/12
http://www.judis.nic.in
C.S.No.159 of 2014
JUDGMENT
Heard the learned counsel appearing for the plaintiffs.
2. The suit is filed for the following reliefs:
(a) for a declaration that the second plaintiff is the absolute owner of the absolute entire World Negative rights by permanent injunction restraining the defendants, their men, agents, servants anybody on their behalf or assigns from in any manner from infringing the copy rights and the exclusive rights assigned to 2nd plaintiff by deed of assignment dated 01.10.2013 of the suit picture (picture and sound) Dubbing and Remaking Rights in all languages along with its copy right of 35 mm and 16 mm commercial and non-commercial, theatrical, non-
theatrical rights, Television rights in all Channels including National, Regional, Metro, Channels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and its satellite and entertainment channels, satellite Television broadcasting rights, private communication, broadcasting, cable TV, Pay TV, Pay per view TV, Pay on Demand, Direct to Home, Direct to user rights, MMDS, Video on Demand, Wire, Wireless, IPTV, CCTV, airborne, highseas, rail borne, surface, transport rights, All India Radio, FM Private Radio Broadcasting, Audio/DC rights, Video copyrights including VCD, LD, DVD, Mini-HD, Blue Ray, Mp4, 4/12 http://www.judis.nic.in C.S.No.159 of 2014 HDCD, Internet/Web Technology, broadband rights, mobile, microchip, ringtone rights, portal rights and by form of communication like signs, signals, writing, pictures, images and sounds of all kinds by transmission of electromagnetic waves through space or through cables intended to be received by general public directly or indirectly through medium of relay stations and all electric and electronic rights of present and future inventions in the entire world including India of the said cinematograph film for a perpetual period of Ninety nine years commencing from the date of the agreement being 01.10.2013;
b) by permanent injunction restraining the defendants, their men, agents, servants, or their representatives, anybody on their behalf or assigns from in any manner from infringing the copyrights and exclusive rights assigned to the 2nd plaintiff by deed of assignment dated 01.10.2013 in respect of the suit picture “POONILAMAZHA” Malayalam Colour scope starring Prasanth, Thilagam and others directed by Mr.Sunil, and also including the entire World Negative rights (picture and sound) Dubbing and Remaking Rights in all languages along with its copy right of 35 mm and 16 mm commercial and non-commercial, theatrical, non-theatrical rights, Television rights in all Channels including National, Regional, Metro, Channels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and its satellite and entertainment 5/12 http://www.judis.nic.in C.S.No.159 of 2014 channels, satellite Television broadcasting rights, private communication, broadcasting, cable TV, Pay TV, Pay per view TV, Pay on Demand, Direct to Home, Direct to use rights, MMDS, Video on Demand, Wire, Wireless, IPTV, CCTV, airborne, highseas, rail borne, surface, transport rights, All India Radio, FM Private Radio Broadcasting, Audio/DC rights, Video copyrights including VCD, LD, DVD, Mini-HD, Blue Ray, MP4, HDCD, Internet/Web Technology, broadband rights, mobile, microchip, ringtone rights, portal rights and any form of communication like signs, signals, writing, pictures, images and sounds of all kinds by transmission of electromagnetic waves through space or through cables intended to be received by general public directly or indirectly through medium of relay stations and all electric and electronic rights of present and future inventions in the entire world including India of the said cinematograph film for a perpetual period of Ninety nine years commencing from the date of the agreement being 01.10.2013, and c) directing the defendants 1 and 2 to pay the damages of Rs.5,00,000/- together with interest at the rate of 24% per annum from the date of plaint till the date of realisation, caused to the plaintiffs by illegally telecasting the suit picture “POONILAMAZHA” and thereby caused the infringement of copy rights of the suit picture ““POONILAMAZHA”. 6/12 http://www.judis.nic.in C.S.No.159 of 2014
3. The brief facts narrated in the plaint is that 1st plaintiff is in the business of film financing, producing pictures and distributing the same. The 2nd plaintiff is the assignee of the right in “POONILAMAZHA”, Malayalam Movie which the 1st plaintiff has acquired the copy rights from its producer by a letter dated 10.01.1997. While the copy right is held by the 2nd plaintiff through the 1st plaintiff, the 2nd defendant herein has telecasted the Movie in the Channel during the month of October 2013 without any authority or right. Hence the plaintiffs as well as the 3rd defendant issued notice to the 2nd defendant not to telecaste the Movie in their Channel, but the notice did not evoke any response. Hence the present suit has been filed for declaration, permanent injunction and for damages as stated above.
4. Despite notice, there was no representation on behalf of the defendants. Hence, they were set exparte.
5. The plaintiffs to prove their case have filed the proof affidavit and marked Exhibits P1 to Ex.P10. Ex.P1 is the letter issued by the producer/1st defendant to the 3rd defendant/Gemini Colour Laboratory acknowledging the financial liability with the plaintiffs and the ownership of the negatives of the said Movie (Malayalam) colour scope with the plaintiff. 7/12 http://www.judis.nic.in C.S.No.159 of 2014 The relevant passage indicating the undertaking found in Paragraph Nos.4 and 5 are extracted below:
4. We have undertaken that in lieu of the finance arrangement Mr.Nandagopal Chetty, Madras, will be owners of the negatives, its lease and exploitation rights, dubbing and remake rights, telecasting and Video rights and their realisations, royalty collections, revenue and all the attendant benefits, and they will also be permitted to conclude sale of ownership rights of the said picture, its lease and exploitation rights for the entire World and such arrangement as entered into by them will be fully binding on us without demur.
5. They are irrecovably permitted to handle the negatives for the purposes of completing the picture, employ technicians and artists and also to release the picture, without any further reference to us and all their acts committed to the above effects will be fully binding on us.
6. On the very same day, the 3rd defendant/Gemini Colour Laboratory has also confirmed the right of the 1st plaintiff over the said Movie. In the said confirmation letter, the 3rd defendant has specifically informed the plaintiffs that the 1st defendant has given an undertaking that he shall not enter into any other contract with any other Laboratory, in respect of the above named picture nor shall create any charges or any encumbrance on the negatives.
8/12
http://www.judis.nic.in C.S.No.159 of 2014
7. Contrary to this undertaking, the 1st defendant has permitted the 3rd defendant to telecast the Movie in the Channel. Ex.P3 is the deed of assignment entered into between the 1st plaintiff and the 2nd plaintiff on 01.10.2013, assigning the copy right held by the 1st plaintiff in favour of the 2nd plaintiff. Therefore, the plaintiffs have joined together to lay the suit. The letter sent by the plaintiffs and the 3rd defendant to the 2nd defendant to desist from telecasting the Moive in the Channel are marked as Ex.P5 and Ex.P8 respectively. Neither the 1st defendant nor the 2nd defendant has responded to these notices. In the said circumstances, the learned counsel for the plaintiffs would pray that the suit may be allowed as per the relief sought.
8. On a perusal of the Exhibits P1 to P10 relied by the plaintiffs, this Court finds there was a contract between the 1st defendant and the 1st plaintiff. Pursuant to that, the Lab letter has been given by the 1st defendant to the 3rd defendant recognizing the negative rights vest with the 1st plaintiff. The said negative right has been assigned by the 1st plaintiff in favour of the 2nd plaintiff as per the the assignment deed dated 1.10.2013. Nowhere in the Lab letter, the consideration has been mentioned. However, in the assignment Ex.P3, this Court finds that the consideration 9/12 http://www.judis.nic.in C.S.No.159 of 2014 for the assignment of the world negative right and all copy rights held by the 1st plaintiff in the Movie “ POONILMAZHA” is shown as Rs.50,000/-. Therefore, though the plaintiffs have sought damages of Rs.5,00,000/- in the suit, infact, the consideration for the Movie right as per the assignment was only Rs.50,000/-. That apart, the documents relied by the learned counsel for the plaintiffs does not indicate whether the 3rd defendant has telecasted the Movie and if so, on which date, the 3rd respondent telecasted the Movie. In the absence of material evidence to prove the said fact, the 2nd defendant cannot be held liable for any damage whatsoever.
9. As a result, the suit is partly allowed and the plaintiff is entitled for the relief of declaration and permanent injunction as prayed for. As far as the damage and loss is concerned, though the plaintiffs have claimed Rs.5,00,000/-, material evidence indicates that the consideration for the said Movie copy right was only Rs.50,000/-. Therefore, if at all he has incurred loss by telecasting the Movie in the 2nd defendant's Channel without permission, he is entitled only to a sum of Rs.50,000/-. Therefore, the claim of damage is restricted to Rs.50,000/- and decree is passed accordingly.
10/12 http://www.judis.nic.in C.S.No.159 of 2014
10. In the result, the suit is partly allowed. Prayer (a) and (b) allowed. Prayer(c) restricted to Rs.50,000/- with interest at the rate of 24% per annum from the date of plaint till the date of realisation. The plaintiff is also entitled for the costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
05.02.2020
Speaking Order / Non-Speaking Order
Index : yes/no
uma
11/12
http://www.judis.nic.in
C.S.No.159 of 2014
Dr.G.JAYACHANDRAN,J.
uma
C.S.No.159 of 2014
05.02.2020
12/12
http://www.judis.nic.in