The Supreme Court has declined to intervene in a Delhi High Court decision concerning copyright ownership of the lyrics and sound recording of the popular song ‘En Iniya Pon Nilave’ from the Tamil film ‘Moodu Pani’.
A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran refused to entertain music composer Ilaiyaraaja’s appeal against the Delhi High Court judgment that favoured music company Saregama.
The dispute emerged after a production house used a recreated version of the song in another film, stating that it had obtained the necessary licence from Ilaiyaraaja.
Saregama challenged the use, maintaining that it had acquired the relevant rights through an assignment from the original producer of ‘Moodu Pani’.
The Delhi High Court subsequently ruled that Ilaiyaraaja’s rights extended to the musical composition, including the tune, but did not cover the lyrics or the original sound recording.
A division bench of the High Court had earlier upheld the decision of a single judge. Ilaiyaraaja later sought a review of the ruling, but that plea was also rejected. The Supreme Court’s latest decision leaves the High Court’s findings undisturbed.
