For using KGF 2 music for the Bharat Jodo Yatra campaign without permission, MRT Music sued the Congress leaders for copyright infringement and filed a criminal complaint.
In a copyright infringement complaint against Congress members Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh, and Supriya Shrinate for the unauthorised use of music from KGF Chapter 2 during the Bharat Jodo Yatra campaign, the Karnataka High Court on Friday stayed the investigation. State of Karnataka v. Jairam Ramesh
The stay was ordered by Justice S. Sunil Dutt Yadav on the eve of the High Court’s Winter Vacation. The interim restraining order will be in effect until the following hearing. Two song portions from the film, according to senior attorney A. S. Ponnanna, who was arguing on behalf of the Congress party officials, were allegedly utilised in the videos for the Bharat Jodo yatra. Two days prior to the police complaint being made through the yatra in Bengaluru’s Yeshwantpur police station, a lawsuit was filed in a commercial court. Even though the yatra did not pass through the city, a lawsuit in a commercial court was filed two days prior to the police report being made at the Yeshwantpur police station in Bengaluru.
The film for the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which was produced with the intention of being widely shared on social media platforms, allegedly included well-known sound recordings that MRT Music owned and controlled.
They assert that it was evident from the video that the accused had improperly used the recordings with the intention to make wrongful gains
“Copyright is statutory right. In the absence of a cognizable offence, (the) FIR is bad in law,” he pointed out. He said the video is not from the ‘KGF’ movie but only a part of the song which was synchronised with the visuals of the yatra. The FIR was registered under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 403 (Dishonest misappropriation of property) 465 (forgery) r/w Section 34 (criminal act with common intent) of Indian Penal Code, Section 33 of Copyright Act and Section 66 of Information Technology Act.
A local commissioner was instructed to visit the Congress party website, conduct an electronic audit, and preserve any materials that were available on their social media that were infringing, while the copyright suit was being heard by an Additional City Civil & Sessions Judge in Bengaluru. Additionally, the judge issued an injunction in MRT’s favour.
On November 8, the Congress immediately appealed this order to the High Court.
The High Court had ordered the party to delete the offensive material from its Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram accounts.
The High Court was informed by MRT earlier this month that the information was still available on the Congress party’s social media accounts. It then filed a motion for contempt, claiming that the accused leaders had disobeyed the High Court’s ruling.
The Court then went on to give the Congress party notice. On January 12, 2023, this contempt petition will be heard again.
written by RISHAV RAJ 4th semester bba ll.b ( RNB GLOBAL UNIVERSITY )
