Delhi HC restrains Ilaiyaraaja from broadcasting songs from 134 movies in Saregama copyright dispute

The Delhi Excessive Courtroom on Wednesday (July 1, 2026) dominated in favour of music label Saregama India Ltd. in its copyright dispute with composer Ilaiyaraaja, restraining him from broadcasting or speaking the songs in query from 134 movies courting again to 1976, until additional orders.

Justice Tushar Rao Gedela held that whereas Mr. Ilaiyaraaja continues to take pleasure in copyright over the musical compositions he created, these rights don’t prolong to the sound recordings integrated in movies, the copyright through which vests with the producer, Saregama.

“The proper of the defendant/Ilaiyaraaja to the extent conferred by Part 14(a) of the (Copyright) Act of the precise to adaptation is restricted to the extent of “musical work”, that’s, the musical composition of the songs claimed to have been infringed, sans the lyrics,” the courtroom mentioned.

Saregama had informed the courtroom that between 1976 and 2001 it entered into task agreements with producers of a number of cinematograph movies. By advantage of those agreements, it claimed possession of the copyrights within the sound recordings in addition to the underlying musical and literary works of songs forming a part of these movies.

The corporate alleged that it not too long ago got here throughout the infringing use of the copyrighted works by Mr. Ilaiyaraaja by importing the identical on numerous platforms like Amazon music, iTunes, Jio Saavan and so on. It additionally alleged Mr. Ilaiyaraaja of getting made possession claims over the infringing content material.

The courtroom held that Mr. Ilaiyaraaja’s rights underneath the Copyright Act had been confined to the musical compositions and that any exploitation of the disputed sound recordings would, prima facie, quantity to copyright infringement.

“Since there isn’t a denial to the broadcasting of songs that are material of the swimsuit referred cinematograph movies, the defendant/Ilaiyaraaja, prima facie, seems to be indulging in acts which might tantamount to infringement,” the courtroom added.

The order covers an in depth record of 134 movies, together with well-known titles equivalent to Annakkili (1976), 16 Vayathiniley (1977), Mullum Malarum (1978), Netrikkann (1981), and Raaja Paarvai (1981).