Trimurti Films Drags Dharma, Saregama to Bombay High Court Over ‘Saat Samundar Paar’ Remix in the upcoming Hindi film Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri
Trimurti Films Pvt Ltd has filed a copyright infringement suit in the Bombay High Court against Dharma Productions, Namah Pictures, music label Saregama India, and rapper Badshah, alleging that the iconic 1992 song “Saat Samundar Paar” from the film Vishwatma was used without authorisation in the teaser and promotional material for the upcoming Hindi film Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri. The petitioner claims that Saregama only holds limited rights and did not have authority to licence the song’s remix, adaptation or synchronisation, and seeks urgent injunctions to stop further use, disclosure of licensing agreements, and compensation of ₹10 crore for alleged copyright infringement, misrepresentation and unfair trade practices; the matter is to be heard again on December 22, 2025.
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Saregama to invest 325 crore rupees in Bhansali Productions
As per the reports, Saregama India will invest ₹325 crore in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bhansali Productions via 9,960 compulsory convertible preference shares (CCPS), gaining a 28–49.9% stake by 2028, with the option to reach 51% by 2030. The deal secures exclusive rights to all future film music, ensuring a market share, while Bhansali retains creative control. The investment will expand content, build a world-class studio, and make Saregama’s EPS accretive by FY27. Bhansali Productions, known for Devdas, Padmaavat, and Heeramandi, has 10 films planned over three years, including Love and War and Do Deewane Shehar Mein. See here for more.
Kerala HC Allows Release of Malayalam Film Haal Without Contested Cuts
The Kerala High Court dismissed appeals by the Union Government and Catholic Congress challenging the quashing of an ‘A’ certificate and six cuts on Haal. A Division Bench upheld a single judge’s ruling, giving relief to the filmmakers. The Catholic Congress had objected to depictions of the Bishop of Thamarassery, interfaith marriage themes, and certain scenes, claiming defamation and potential harm to social harmony. The CBFC had initially imposed six mandatory cuts, including a beef biriyani scene and visuals of the Bishop’s residence. The court found four of the six cuts unjustified, directing the CBFC to reconsider certification without them. Filmmakers had already agreed to remove the remaining two excisions. See here.
ShareChat-owned QuickTV now has parental controls
ShareChat has planned to introduce parental controls and advanced content ratings on its app, QuickTV. These controls will restrict access to content rated U/A 13+ and above, including gore, violence, or other age-sensitive material. This follows after concerns raised regarding the absence of content ratings and age verification on microdrama apps, which could expose minors to mature themes like sexual content, violence, and drug use. QuickTV will now categorise shows under U (Unrestricted), U/A 13+, U/A 16+, and A (Adult), enabling parents to manage age-appropriate content access. “As micro-dramas increasingly mirror mainstream content in theme and intensity, clearer classification, age-appropriate access, and platform accountability have become paramount,” said ShareChat CEO Ankush Sachdeva. “QuickTV will continue working towards compliance to ensure safer content access.” See more here.
Kerala Court Awards INR 30 Lakh to Writer in ‘Karmayodha’ Plagiarism Case
A Kottayam Commercial Court has ruled in favour of scriptwriter Reji Mathew in a long-running dispute over the 2012 Malayalam film Karmayodha, directed by Major Ravi and starring Mohanlal, holding that the film’s story, screenplay and dialogues were used without the writer’s permission and thus amounted to plagiarism and copyright infringement. The court ordered Major Ravi, producer Haneef Mohammed and others to pay Mathew INR 30 lakh in compensation and recognised him as the rightful copyright holder of the work, bringing a legal conclusion to a battle that spanned over a decade.
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Centre Blocks 19 Films, Including Century-Old Classic, at Kerala Film Festival
The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has refused screening permission to 19 films at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in Thiruvananthapuram, sparking controversy over censorship and artistic freedom. Among the titles denied exemption are politically sensitive works and internationally acclaimed films such as Sergei Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin—celebrating its centenary—alongside Palestinian-themed films and others like Beef, which has no connection to its title, according to reports. Festival organisers and Kerala state leaders have strongly criticised the move as bureaucratic over-cautiousness that undermines cultural expression, with some titles later cleared after intervention, and the state government vowing to screen the films despite the central restrictions.
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Bombay HC Restrains Three Firms from Using ‘FedEx’ Name
The Bombay High Court has ordered Fedex Securities Pvt Ltd, Fedex Stock Broking Ltd, and Fedex Finance Pvt Ltd to stop using ‘Fedex’ in their names, ruling it infringes the trademark of global courier company FedEx. Justice R.I. Chagla granted interim relief, noting FedEx had a strong prima facie case and would suffer harm if the companies continued using the name. The order bars the companies from using ‘FedEx’ in company names, trademarks, websites, emails, or applying for similar registrations, and from passing off their services as FedEx. The defendants argued they had used the name since 1996 and claimed it stood for “Federal Executives,” linked to Federal Bank. The court rejected this as “implausible” and noted only one director had any such connection. It also dismissed claims under Section 159(5) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999. FedEx’s mark is registered in India and officially recognised as a well-known mark in 2024. The court added that adding “Securities” does not make the name distinctive, citing Supreme Court precedent. Senior counsel for FedEx highlighted potential confusion and reputation misuse, while the defendants argued long-standing honest use without confusion. See Federal Express Corporation vs. FedEx Finance Private Limited.
Centre Reviewing Copyright Act to Address Challenges Posed by Generative AI
The Central government has informed the Lok Sabha that the Copyright Act 1957 is being reviewed to assess its adequacy in dealing with emerging issues arising from generative artificial intelligence, including questions of authorship, ownership and the use of copyrighted works in AI training. An eight member expert committee constituted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has completed the first part of its working paper examining the use of copyrighted material by AI systems and has released it for public and stakeholder consultation, while the second part addressing more complex legal and policy concerns is under examination and is expected to be reflected in a forthcoming white paper.
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