Delhi High Court Imposes ₹25 Lakh Penalty on Rakshit Shetty's Production House for Copyright Violation
The Delhi High Court has delivered a significant ruling in a copyright infringement case, directing Kannada actor-director Rakshit Shetty's production company, Paramvah Studios, to pay a total of ₹25 lakh for the unauthorized use of two copyrighted songs in the 2024 film Bachelor Party. Justice Tejas Karia found the studio guilty of both copyright infringement and contempt of court, reinforcing strict enforcement of intellectual property rights in the entertainment industry.
Court Rejects 'Minimal Usage' Defense in Landmark Ruling
During the proceedings, the filmmakers argued that the music portions used were too brief to require a license, claiming the usage was minimal. The court firmly rejected this defense, noting that the songs Omme Ninnanu and Nyaya Ellide were used for 31 seconds and 7 seconds respectively. Justice Karia clarified that even a single frame from an audio-visual work falls under the exclusive rights of the copyright holder according to the Copyright Act, establishing an important precedent for future cases.
MRT Music's Ownership Claims and Legal Victory
MRT Music, represented by Ira Law Attorneys, successfully claimed ownership of the two songs featured in Bachelor Party. The music label alleged the tracks were used without proper synchronization licenses. One song played on a television in a scene, while another was performed in a classroom sequence to support the film's narrative. Speaking about the verdict, MRT Music's partner Naveen Manoharan and CEO Sachin Chauhan stated: "This ruling reinforces the need for sync licenses and makes it clear that unauthorized use of copyrighted work invites liability."
Contempt of Court Finding and Financial Penalties
The court's order revealed additional complications in the case. In August 2024, an interim order had directed the filmmakers to deposit ₹20 lakh and remove the infringing content. While the amount was eventually submitted during proceedings, the delay in compliance led to contempt action. The bench observed that the songs were deliberately chosen to enhance the narrative, amounting to commercial use. Consequently, the court imposed an additional ₹5 lakh penalty to purge the contempt, bringing the total financial liability to ₹25 lakh.
Paramvah Studios' History of Copyright Issues
This is not the first time Rakshit Shetty's production house has faced copyright allegations. In 2020, a non-bailable warrant was issued against Paramvah Studios, Rakshit Shetty, and composer Ajaneesh Loknath under the Copyright Act for allegedly using a song from Shanti Kranti in the 2016 film Kirik Party without consent. Interestingly, the rights to that track are held by Lahari Recording Company, a sister concern of MRT Music, indicating a pattern of copyright disputes involving the same music entities.
Film Release Details and Industry Implications
Bachelor Party, starring Diganth Manchale and Siri Ravikumar, was released in theaters in January 2024 before moving to OTT platforms. The court noted that the filmmakers deliberately selected the copyrighted songs to enhance the narrative, constituting commercial exploitation. This ruling sends a clear message to the film industry about the necessity of obtaining proper licenses for any copyrighted material, regardless of duration or context of use.
Paramvah Studios and Rakshit Shetty have not publicly responded to the court order at this time. The case highlights the increasing vigilance of copyright holders and the judicial system's willingness to enforce intellectual property rights with substantial financial penalties, potentially changing how filmmakers approach music licensing in future productions.
