Housefull 5 Makers Sue YouTube, Mofusion Studios for ₹25 Crore
The ongoing drama surrounding the teaser of Housefull 5 has taken a new turn, with the makers of the film filing a defamation suit against YouTube and Mofusion Studios for ₹25 crore. The suit was filed in the Delhi High Court, alleging that YouTube and Mofusion Studios damaged the reputation of the film’s producers, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, by removing the teaser from their official YouTube channel without properly investigating the copyright claims made by Mofusion Studios.
For the uninitiated, the controversy began when Mofusion Studios claimed that the song “Laal Pari” by Honey Singh, used in the Housefull 5 teaser, was a copy of their own song. YouTube subsequently removed the teaser from the official Housefull 5 channel, citing copyright infringement. However, the makers of the film are now claiming that YouTube did not take the necessary steps to verify the validity of Mofusion Studios’ claims and that the removal of the teaser damaged their reputation.
In their lawsuit, the makers of Housefull 5 have accused YouTube of being negligent in their duty to ensure that the content on their platform is legally permissible. They have also pointed out that YouTube has a significant presence in India, with over 16 lakh subscribers, and that the removal of the teaser from their channel had a significant impact on their image.
The lawsuit also accuses Mofusion Studios of making false claims about the ownership of the song “Laal Pari” and of attempting to mislead YouTube into removing the teaser. The makers of Housefull 5 are seeking damages of ₹25 crore from both YouTube and Mofusion Studios, as well as an order to re-upload the teaser to their official channel.
The controversy surrounding the Housefull 5 teaser has sparked a wider debate about copyright infringement and the role of social media platforms in policing intellectual property. While Mofusion Studios claims that the song “Laal Pari” is an original composition, the makers of Housefull 5 have maintained that the song was used in the teaser with the necessary permissions and clearances.
The removal of the teaser from YouTube has also raised questions about the transparency and accountability of social media platforms in handling copyright infringement claims. The lawsuit filed by the makers of Housefull 5 highlights the need for social media platforms to take a more nuanced approach to copyright infringement, taking into account the legitimate interests of all parties involved.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment said, “We are shocked and disappointed by the actions of YouTube and Mofusion Studios. We had obtained all the necessary permissions and clearances to use the song ‘Laal Pari’ in the teaser, and we are confident that the song is not a copy of Mofusion Studios’ song.”
The statement also accused Mofusion Studios of making baseless claims and attempting to damage the reputation of the film’s producers. “Mofusion Studios has made false and defamatory claims about our song, and YouTube has acted recklessly in removing our teaser without properly investigating the matter,” the statement said.
The controversy is likely to have far-reaching implications for the film industry, which has long relied on social media platforms to promote its movies. The lawsuit filed by the makers of Housefull 5 highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the way that social media platforms handle copyright infringement claims, and the need for the film industry to take a more proactive approach to protecting its intellectual property.
As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how YouTube and Mofusion Studios will respond to the lawsuit filed by the makers of Housefull 5. One thing is certain, however: the removal of the teaser from YouTube has sparked a wider debate about the role of social media in policing intellectual property, and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the way that social media platforms handle copyright infringement claims.
