The decision came after Sony Music sought the transfer, arguing that a related case involving the same dispute had already been filed earlier in the Bombay High Court
The Supreme Court of India has transferred a copyright suit filed by legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja from the Madras High Court to the Bombay High Court, consolidating proceedings in an ongoing legal battle with Sony Music Entertainment India.
The decision came after Sony Music sought the transfer, arguing that a related case involving the same dispute had already been filed earlier in the Bombay High Court. The company highlighted the risk of conflicting judgments if parallel proceedings continued in different courts.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and Vinod K. Chandran accepted the plea, noting that the composer had not sought any relief against the proceedings already underway in Mumbai. The court allowed the transfer while granting Ilaiyaraaja the liberty to raise all legal objections,including jurisdiction,before the Bombay High Court.
The dispute dates back to 2022, when Sony Music filed a copyright infringement suit seeking to restrain Ilaiyaraaja and his company from using certain sound recordings and musical works. In response, the composer later approached the Madras High Court, challenging Sony’s ownership claims and seeking to prevent the exploitation of his compositions.
With the Supreme Court’s order, all related issues—including copyright ownership and jurisdiction,will now be adjudicated by the Bombay High Court, streamlining what has become a complex, multi-forum legal battle in India’s music industry.