Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music have sued Anthropic
Per this recent report, Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music have sued Anthropic in a Northern California federal court, accusing it of unlawfully downloading and scraping copyrighted songs to train its Claude models. The complaint also names Anthropic co-founders Dario Amodei and Benjamin Mann. The publishers allege that Claude can reproduce copyrighted lyrics, potentially competing with licensed lyric services and harming the music market. They seek a jury trial and statutory damages of up to $150,000 per infringed composition. The lawsuit also draws on Anthropic’s earlier dispute over the use of pirated books for AI training, which resulted in a $1.5 billion settlement over the acquisition of unauthorised copies, despite the court finding the subsequent training use to be fair use. Anthropic disputes the publishers’ claims and says it will defend itself in court. The company has also faced earlier litigation from Universal Music Group, Concord Music Group, and ABKCO concerning the unauthorised reproduction of song lyrics.
Batwara 1947: Aamir Khan Productions faces Rs 1 crore legal notice over ‘Pretty Woman’
Per this news bit, Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) has sent a legal notice to Aamir Khan Productions alleging that the song “Pretty Woman” from Kal Ho Naa Ho was used without permission at a Batwara 1947 promotional event on August 12. PPL is seeking Rs 1 crore in damages, plus applicable licence fees. PPL says Sony Music Entertainment owns the track, while PPL holds public-performance rights assigned by more than 500 music companies, including Sony. It has given the recipients seven days to comply, failing which it may pursue civil and criminal proceedings under the Copyright Act. Aamir Khan Productions has denied the allegations, saying it did not organise the event or have any role in playing the song.
Delhi High Court Restrains FSSAI from Cancelling ITC’s Licence Over “100%” Atta Claims
The Delhi High Court has restrained FSSAI from taking any decision to cancel ITC Limited’s food business licence over its use of “100% Atta” and “100% Madhya Pradesh Wheat” on Aashirvaad MP Chakki Atta. The order came after ITC challenged an improvement notice issued just three days after a show-cause notice, arguing that it was denied an opportunity to respond. ITC has also challenged the legality of FSSAI’s May 2025 advisory against “100%” claims, arguing that such restrictions cannot be imposed through an advisory without following the statutory process for making regulations. FSSAI, meanwhile, has questioned the Delhi High Court’s jurisdiction and pointed to an alternative statutory remedy. The Court has asked both sides to submit written notes on jurisdiction and will hear the matter again on September 9. See here for more.
This is for sure a ‘healthy’ development and forms part of FSSAI’s broader crackdown on misleading food-label claims, including its recent action against Dabur over claims such as “100% Pure” and “100% Natural.”
John Doe order against those defaming the Kannada film Toxic
As per this Live Law report, a Bengaluru court has granted KVN Productions an ex-parte temporary injunction protecting the Kannada film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups from false, malicious, or defamatory content online until the September 28 hearing. The John Doe order covers YouTube reviewers and others but does not bar genuine reviews or criticism. The notices have sparked debate among reviewers, highlighting the tension between protecting films from misinformation and preserving online speech.
Taapsee Pannu’s Gandhari Faces Copyright Claim Ahead of Netflix Release
Writer Kalyan Bandi has alleged that Taapsee Pannu’s upcoming Netflix film Gandhari resembles a story he wrote and registered in 2019. He says his story centred on a mother fighting a child-trafficking racket and claims he sent the makers a legal notice in 2025 seeking ₹40 lakh and credit. Kanika Dhillon’s production house, Kathha Pictures, has denied the allegations, calling them baseless and maintaining that Gandhari is an original work written and produced by Dhillon. The film is set to premiere on Netflix on September 3. See more here.
Bombay High Court Allows Bandar OTT Release with Disclaimers in Trauma Suit
The Bombay High Court has allowed the OTT release of Hindi film Bandar, subject to prominent Hindi and English disclaimers. The order follows a suit by a rape survivor who alleged that the film used and monetised her personal trauma without consent and could prejudice her ongoing criminal case. The plaintiff claimed the film closely mirrored events from her 2019 rape complaint and sought ₹2,600 crore in damages and an injunction against its release. The producers, Saffron Magicworks, denied the allegations and maintained that Bandar is a fictionalised work addressing broader issues in the criminal justice system. Justice Abhay Ahuja had earlier declined to stay the film’s release, noting that it had already completed its theatrical run. The parties subsequently agreed to the disclaimer requirement, clearing the film for its scheduled OTT release on August 28, 2026. See here for more.
