NEW DELHI: Lyricist Javed Akhtar has been slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh by the Delhi High Court for withdrawing a copyright violation case against a film production house and causing "unnecessary financial burden" on it to defend itself.
Observing that defendant Magic Mantra Vision was put under "unnecessary hardship" as it had to visit Delhi time and again to defend the case, the court said "in view of the denial of the letter written by him (Akhtar) on January 10, 2001 transferring the copyright... the suit is dismissed as withdrawn".
But this would be subject to the condition that the lyricist paid Rs 1 lakh to the production house, Justice AK Sikri said and directed him to pay the amount to company proprietor Samarjit Gupta.
The order, a copy of which was available recently, followed Akhtar's failure to appear in compliance to summons issued to him by the high court.
However, Akhtar's lawyer said that his client wanted to withdraw the case against the company as he recognised his signature on the letter through which he had transferred the copyright to the company in 2001.
Earlier, the company's counsel claimed that the production house being the producer of film Pyar Ki Dhun, had the copy right over the songs in the film as Akhtar had transferred his copyrights to it. The counsel also produced the original letter purportedly written by Akhtar transferring the copyright to the company in 2001. *
In December last year, Akhtar had filed a suit against the film production house alleging infringement of his copyright in certain songs -- Gum-sum si ho, Meri in aankhon mein and Hum hain titliyan -- which he had written for the film Pyar Ki Dhun produced by it.
He alleged that he was the sole owner of the rights in the lyrics except the right to make cinematograph film of his work. The company had licenced rights in the lyrical works in favour of Sa Re Ga Ma Indian Ltd (previously known as HMV).
Making use of these songs in the form of CD and cassettes, he had alleged, the company has deprived him from the financial benefit as he had a right to receive royalty.
