HC restrains audio com's from selling compositions of music director Ilayaaja

Chennai, Oct 17: Madras High Court today restrained five audio recording companies from making and selling film music compositions of renowned music director Ilayaraja, violating his copyrights.

Justice S Tamilvanan had on September 6 granted interim injunction restraining five audio recording companies from manufacturing and selling compilations of Ilayaraja's hits without his permission. Justice R Subbiah today extended the interim ban till October 20.

In his career since 1970s, Ialayaraja had composed music for more than 4,500 songs. In his civil suit, Ilayaraja wanted to restrain Agi Music Pvt. Ltd., Echo Recording Company Pvt. Ltd., M/s Unisys Info Solution Pvt. Ltd., M/s. Agi Music sdn bhd and M/s Giri Trading Company from manufacturing, selling, distributing or in any manner infringing his exclusive right under Copyright Act-1957, to deal with sound recording composed by him.

Ilayaraja maintained that he had not given copyright to any company through his wife, as claimed by them. Noting that these companies had no right to exploit the music composed by him, he said if injunction was not granted, that might lead to irreparable "injury" to him.

PTI