Madras High Court Approves Settlement Between Ilaiyaraaja and Mythri Movie Makers in Copyright Dispute

 

The Madras High Court has formally recorded a settlement between veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja and the production house Mythri Movie Makers, resolving a long-standing copyright dispute over the unauthorised use of several of his compositions in two films produced by the company. The dispute arose when Ilaiyaraaja alleged that his musical works were used without obtaining the necessary permissions, in violation of both his economic and moral rights under the Copyright Act. He had filed a civil suit seeking permanent injunctions to prevent further use, the removal of infringing content, and an accounting of profits earned through the unauthorised use of his compositions.

The films at the centre of the dispute were Dude and Good Bad Ugly. Ilaiyaraaja contended that several of his songs were incorporated into these films without his consent or any licensing agreement. He argued that this not only resulted in financial losses but also compromised his moral rights as the original creator of the compositions. The composer had obtained interim injunctions from the Court, restraining the release and distribution of the films that contained the disputed songs, pending the resolution of the suit.

Following a series of negotiations and discussions before the High Court, the parties arrived at a compromise. A joint memorandum of compromise was submitted to the Court, signed by Ilaiyaraaja and a representative of Mythri Movie Makers, outlining the terms of settlement. Under the agreement, the production house made a payment of ₹50 lakh, net of tax deducted at source, to Ilaiyaraaja through RTGS. In consideration of this payment, the filmmakers were permitted to continue using the songs in the film Dude. However, for the film Good Bad Ugly, the parties agreed that the disputed songs would not be used in any form going forward. This aspect of the settlement ensured that the composer’s rights were fully respected in relation to one of the two films, while also providing financial compensation for the authorised use in the other.

The Court, after examining the compromise, accepted the terms as fair, lawful, and binding. It decreed the civil suit in accordance with the memorandum of compromise, thereby formally concluding the litigation. The Court also noted that each party would bear its own legal costs, reflecting the mutual agreement to resolve the dispute without assigning further blame or financial obligations beyond the settlement. By recording the compromise, the Court effectively closed both the substantive suit and the associated injunction proceedings, thereby lifting any interim restrictions that had been imposed on the release and distribution of the films.

This settlement represents a significant resolution in the area of copyright law, particularly concerning the use of musical compositions in film. It underscores the importance of obtaining proper licensing and permissions before using creative works and demonstrates the value of amicable settlements in avoiding protracted litigation. The resolution allows both Ilaiyaraaja and Mythri Movie Makers to move forward without further legal entanglements, ensuring that the composer is compensated for the authorised use of his music while the filmmakers are able to continue distributing their work in compliance with copyright law. The Court’s recording of the compromise provides finality and legal closure to what had been a high-profile dispute in the Tamil film industry.

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