SC Rejects Ilaiyaraaja’s Plea to Move Sony’s Lawsuit to Madras HC
In a recent development, the Supreme Court has rejected the plea of music composer Ilaiyaraaja to move the lawsuit filed by Sony Music Entertainment from the Bombay High Court to the Madras High Court. The lawsuit, which was filed in 2022, revolves around the ownership of 536 musical compositions, with Sony claiming that they have the rights to these compositions.
Ilaiyaraaja, who is known for his iconic scores in numerous Tamil films, had approached the Supreme Court seeking a transfer of the case to the Madras High Court. He contended that the Bombay High Court was not the appropriate forum to hear the case, and that it would be more convenient for him to litigate in the Madras High Court.
However, the Supreme Court has rejected Ilaiyaraaja’s plea, upholding the jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court to hear the case. The court has directed Ilaiyaraaja to continue the proceedings in the Bombay High Court.
The legal battle between Ilaiyaraaja and Sony began in 2022 when the latter filed a suit against the music composer, seeking an injunction to prevent him from using the 536 musical compositions. Sony claimed that it had acquired the rights to these compositions from the original owners, and that Ilaiyaraaja did not have the authority to use them.
Ilaiyaraaja, on the other hand, has maintained that he has the rights to the compositions, and that Sony’s claims are baseless. He has also alleged that Sony is trying to exploit his work and make a profit from it without his consent.
The Supreme Court’s rejection of Ilaiyaraaja’s plea to transfer the case to the Madras High Court is a significant development in the ongoing legal battle. The court’s decision means that the proceedings will continue in the Bombay High Court, and that the parties will have to litigate in that court.
It is worth noting that the Supreme Court’s decision is not surprising, given the established principles of law and jurisdiction. The Bombay High Court has the jurisdiction to hear copyright disputes, and Ilaiyaraaja’s plea to transfer the case to the Madras High Court was likely to be rejected.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s rejection of Ilaiyaraaja’s plea to move the lawsuit to the Madras High Court is a significant development in the ongoing legal battle between the music composer and Sony Music Entertainment. The case will continue to be heard in the Bombay High Court, and the parties will have to litigate in that court.
