Bombay HC Dismisses Copyright Claim Against ‘Dream Girl 2’
In a significant ruling, the Bombay High Court has dismissed a copyright infringement plea against Balaji Telefilms, the producers of the 2023 release, ‘Dream Girl 2’. The case was filed by writer Ashim Kumar Bagchi, who claimed that the Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer was based on his script.
The court, while dismissing the claim, imposed a cost of ₹2 lakh on the plaintiff, Ashim Kumar Bagchi. The ruling comes as a significant relief to the producers and the cast of the film, who had been facing the heat of a potential copyright infringement lawsuit.
The dispute began when Bagchi filed a lawsuit against Balaji Telefilms, claiming that the storyline of ‘Dream Girl 2’ was similar to his own script, which he had written in 2019. Bagchi alleged that the film’s plot, which revolves around a man who pretends to be a woman to get closer to his love interest, was based on his own work.
However, the court was not convinced by Bagchi’s claims. In its ruling, the court stated that the storyline of ‘Dream Girl 2’ is entirely different from Bagchi’s work. The court also noted that the film’s script was registered with the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) in 2020, long before Bagchi’s script was written.
The court’s ruling is a significant win for Balaji Telefilms and the cast of ‘Dream Girl 2’, who had been facing the risk of a costly and potentially damaging lawsuit. The film, which was released in July 2023, has received mixed reviews from critics, but has been a moderate commercial success.
The case highlights the importance of script registration and the need for writers to ensure that their work is properly registered and protected. It also serves as a reminder that courts will carefully scrutinize copyright infringement claims, and that allegations of plagiarism must be supported by credible evidence.
In its ruling, the court also noted that Bagchi’s allegations were “far-fetched” and lacked concrete evidence to support his claims. The court also observed that Bagchi had failed to provide any credible evidence of his script being circulated or shared with anyone in the film industry.
The court’s ruling is a significant victory for the film industry, which has faced numerous copyright infringement cases in recent years. The ruling sends a strong message that courts will not tolerate frivolous or baseless claims of plagiarism, and that writers and filmmakers must take steps to protect their intellectual property.
In conclusion, the Bombay High Court’s dismissal of the copyright claim against ‘Dream Girl 2’ is a significant win for the film industry. The ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of script registration and the need for writers to ensure that their work is properly protected. It also highlights the need for courts to carefully scrutinize copyright infringement claims, and for allegations of plagiarism to be supported by credible evidence.
