Madras High Court Restrains Online Piracy Of Idhayam Murali Ahead Of Release

The Madras High Court has granted ad interim injunctions restraining internet service providers and cable TV operators from infringing the copyright in the Tamil film Idhayam Murali, which is scheduled to release on July 10.

Justice K. Kumaresh Babu passed the common order on two applications filed by Dawn Pictures Private Limited, the producer of the film, in a suit seeking remedies against apprehended copyright infringement.

"In matters of this nature, it is likely that irreversible injury will occur, unless unlawful broadcast is prevented.", the court noted.

However, the court also noted that the relief sought was expansive and could affect the legitimate business interests of one or more respondents. It therefore held that Dawn Pictures would have to indemnify in respect of any such impact before granting the interim injunction

One application sought an interim injunction directing internet service providers to block websites and webpages hosting infringing content relating to the film, including mirror, alphanumeric, redirecting, and proxy versions of such websites.

Through the second application, Dawn Pictures sought to restrain Thalainagar Digital Cables Private Limited and five other cable TV operators from copying, recording, transmitting, communicating, or otherwise making the film available without authorisation through mediums including CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, cable TV, direct-to-home services, internet services, and Conditional Access Systems.

Subject to the indemnification condition, the court granted ad interim injunctions as prayed for in both applications for a period of four weeks.