Ilaiyaraaja is considered one of the finest composers in Indian cinema, someone who has given timeless, memorable hits in multiple languages. The legendary musician is currently making headlines for his music copyright issue, under the Echo Recording Studio. Here is the whole story.
As per the new reports, the Echo Recording Studio has filed an appeal in the Madras High Court, against the usage of 4,500 songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja. According to more information, the studio told the court that after remuneration, the composer is ineligible to claim the rights of a big chunk of his songs. The songs composed between the years of 1970 and 1990 cannot be copyrighted by him, as he did not retain them. Furthermore, the studio mentioned A R Rahman, stating that he claimed the copyright of his songs by specifically stating in the contract.
The hearing was conducted before Acting Chief Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Mohammed Shafiq, the first division bench. As per more reports, the Echo Recording Studio’s appeal challenged the single judge order, according to which the musician had special rights over his 4,500 songs and that they could be used.
The studio was being represented by Vijay Narayan, a senior counsel, who argued that when Ilaiyaraaja received the remuneration, he lost all the rights to his work, considering the Copyright Act. Adding, he mentioned that the musician should have agreed with most composers.
According to Vijay Narayan, if there is no rights retaining agreement, the employer becomes the first author of the work automatically. In Ilaiyaraaja’s case, it is the producer. The advocate added that Ilaiyraaja did not have any evidence to prove that his rights were retained.
The counsel mentioned that section 57 of the Copyrights Act, 2012 gives Ilaiyaraaja the right to protect his integrity and honour if his work is negatively distorted or mutated. But, in the Echo Recording Studio’s case, no such thing was done, the counsel further stated.
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