Copyrights | Intellepedia

Disco Dancer Copyright in Court: Remake, Adaptation, or Sequel?

In a recent case involving the iconic film Disco Dancer, the Bombay High Court examined whether a stage musical and a proposed new film were a remake, an adaptation, or a sequel. The Court held that the musical was an adaptation covered by Shemaroo’s rights, but refused to restrain the new film since Shemaroo had not pleaded infringement in its plaint. The order pointed out the difference between remake, adaptation, and sequel under Indian copyright law.

Music Creation and Copyright Transfers

A flat digital illustration shows two hands playing a small keyboard, with a floating orange music note and soundwave above. To the right, there is a large “TRANSFER COPYRIGHT” document featuring a treble clef, signature line, copyright symbol, and a pen, symbolizing music creation and copyright transfer.

In the case of Rajesh Jhaveri v. Saregama India Limited & Anr., the Bombay High Court dismissed a bid for interim injunction restraining Saregama from exploiting songs from three albums. The Court held that assignment agreements executed in the late 1980s granted broad rights to exploit the works “by any and every means w

Internet rights in cinematographic films – Vasuki, Shenbaga Kottai, and Dubai Rani copyright infringement case

The Madras High Court, in a copyright infringement case involving Tamil films Vasuki, Shenbaga Kottai, and Dubai Rani, held that the plaintiff is the sole copyright owner of the internet rights and restrained the defendants from online exploitation. The Court awarded nominal damages for infringement.

When Copyright, AI, and Regulation Interact: Where Does Accessibility Stand?

A friendly blue robot holding a glowing light bulb stands beside the text “When Copyright, AI, and Regulation Interact” written in a bold, stencil-style font on a black background.

In the short time that AI applications and technologies were fully functional, accessibility took a huge step forward by enabling persons with disabilities to create accessible format works. But this seems to be regressing, and unless appropriate steps are taken, the advantage of AI to persons with disabilities may once again be limited to a small percentage of the content being created… Even though the law permits conversion into accessible formats, the tools available to users may no longer support it. This can lead to a situation where a legal right cannot be fully exercised because the available technology, though capable, may no longer facilitate accessible content creation.

Delay in Copyright Lawsuit Costs Plaintiff Urgent Relief and Mediation Exemption

A beige background with a black rectangular stamp reading "URGENTLY REQUIRED" in bold letters. The text is overlaid with a large red "X" inside a red circle, symbolizing cancellation or denial of urgency.

In the case of Inreco Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. v. Nav Records Pvt. Ltd., the Calcutta High Court held that a copyright suit filed without genuine urgency could not bypass pre-institution mediation under Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act. The Court revoked the exemption and dismissed the suit.

MS Subbulakshmi Biopic: Who Owns the Copyright over the Script?

A dignified elderly South Indian singer lady in a traditional silk saree and garland, holding a musical instruments, stands center stage with a composed expression. The background features festive lights and garlands, with gold line-art illustrations of a book, pen and idea being expressed through writing on one side and a film crew overlaying the scene on another side.

In a case between Rajiv Menon and Dr. M.P. Somaprasad, the Karnataka High Court was asked to decide who owned the copyright over the script “MS and Bala” for a biopic on M.S. Subbulakshmi. The Court held that the script was an original work of the defendant and not based on the plaintiff’s book.

Compulsory Music License for Events: Delhi HC Rules Against PPL’s Licensing Practices

Image shows corporate event in a banquet hall, where people are dressed in business attire, having drinks and enjoying music.

In a case between Al Hamd Tradenation and PPL, the Delhi High Court ruled that Al Hamd is entitled to a compulsory license because PPL refused to grant a license for a small event at a reasonable fee. The Court stated that Section 31(1)(a) applies to all works, including sound recordings. It observed that demanding an unreasonably high fee constitutes a refusal to license. The Court will now decide the appropriate royalty and licensing conditions.

US Court Affirms Human Authorship Requirement for Copyright Protection

Robot painting portraits in a studio, with text asking about ownership of generated works.

In this order, the US Court of Appeals confirmed that only human authors can claim copyright protection under the 1976 Act. It rejected Dr. Stephen Thaler’s application for an AI-generated artwork, ruling that machines like his Creativity Machine are tools, not authors.

Generative AI Training and Copyright: U.S. Copyright Office’s Pre-Publication Report

Robot reading on a digital tablet and pointing gesture next to text about the U.S. Copyright Office’s pre-publication report on generative AI training released on May 9, 2025.

This post offers a structured summary of Part 3 of the U.S. Copyright Office’s AI report series. It highlights the pre-publication report’s focus on legal concerns surrounding generative AI training and a link to the main report.

The Business of Copyrights – Register Your Interest in Dr. Kalyan Kankanala’s Upcoming IP Book

The Business of Copyrights is Dr. Kalyan Kankanala’s upcoming book on Indian copyright law and its application in business and creative sectors. With a focus on AI and real-world cases, the book is part of a new IP series. Readers can now register their interest ahead of release.