DELHI HIGH COURT REFUSES TO STAY RELEASE OF NETFLIX FILM ‘THE WHITE TIGER’ ON PLEA OF COPYRIGHT VIOLATION
The Delhi High Court refused to stay release of film “The White Tiger” on OTT platform Netflix, while hearing a last-minute plea filed by American Hollywood producer John Hart Jr alleging copyright violation. The film ‘The White Tiger’ is based on the book ‘The White Tiger’, authored by Aravinda Adiga, which was published in March 2008. While Hart claimed that he had “won” the right to make a movie adaptation of the book “The White Tiger” in March 2009 and that that there was a “Literary agreement” between him and the author, Aravind Adiga, to make a movie adaptation out of the award-winning book. After hearing the counsel, the Court opined that no case for the grant of last-minute stay was made out.
FIR HAS BEEN REGISTERED AGAINST THE MAKERS OF AMAZON PRIME’S WEB SERIES MIRZAPUR FOR ALLEGEDLY PORTRAYING UTTAR PRADESH’S DISTRICT WITH THE SAME NAME IN A POOR LIGHT.
FIR has been registered against the makers of Amazon Prime’s web series Mirzapur for allegedly portraying Uttar Pradesh’s district with the same name in a poor light. Amongst other provisions of IPC, Section 295-A has been invoked. Not entirely sure on how are religious sentiments being hurt here (especially two years after the first season was streamed).
PETITION IN SUPREME COURT ALLEGES WEB SERIES MIRZAPUR TARNISHES IMAGE OF THE CITY
The Supreme Court has issued notice in this matter, asking Amazon Prime for a response to the writ petition that has been filed pleading that the show “Mirzapur” tarnishes the image of the city. The plea besides seeking ban on the show also prayed that movies, web series and any other programme released on OTT platforms should go through a pre-censorship committee and obtain a certificate from I&B Ministry.
FIR FILED AGAINST TANDAV MAKERS, ACTORS, AMAZON PRIME IN MUMBAI
Mumbai Police registered an FIR against the makers and cast of Amazon Prime’s controversial web series “Tandav”, based on a complaint lodged by a BJP MLA in the city. The case was registered by the Ghatkopar police against the actors of the web series, including Saif Ali Khan and Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, its director Ali Abbas Zafar, producer Himanshu Mehra, writer Gaurav Solanki, head of Amazon’s India head of original content Aparna Purohit, Amazon India’s head Amit Agarwal.
BOMBAY HIGH COURT GRANTS TRANSIT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO MAKERS OF ‘TANDAV’
A single-judge bench of Justice Prakash D Naik also granted similar relief to Aparna Purohit, head of content, India, Amazon Prime, along with producer Himanshu Krishna Mehra and writer Gaurav Solanki. The plea stated, “The web-series is a work of fiction and is an Indian Hindi political drama showcasing coming together of different worlds under the gamut of politics. It is a dramatic take of the powerplay between people at the high level to secure their position(s). The web-series and the characters thereof in no manner depict/portray/represent any gods and/or goddesses of any religion whatsoever.”
Read order here.
RADIO BROADCASTERS CHALLENGE IPAB DECISION ON STATUTORY LICENSING QUA UNDERLYING WORKS
Radio broadcasters have filed an appeal challenging the IPAB decision qua underlying works. While hearing the appeal, Justice Manmohan had to recuse himself from hearing the matter.
Accordingly, he observed that when his bench was hearing the appeal filed by IPRS vs ENIL against Justice Endlaw’s order, it had directed that the judgment of the learned Single Judge shall not be relied upon or used as a precedent as it was of the opinion that the issue in question required consideration by a Division Bench. On parity of reasoning, a similar order would have been called for in the present batch of matters. However, the present batch matters cannot be heard by this Court.
Read order here.
