Court shoots down complaint over Bollywood numbers in IPL matches

Express News Service Posted: May 15, 2008 at 0108 hrs
Kolkata, May 14 The Calcutta High Court today summarily rejected the petition, which had questioned the Kolkata IPL organisers’ right to play out the popular Bollywood numbers at the Eden.

The otherwise little-known Indian Performers Rights Society Ltd (IPRS) went to Court this morning, arguing that Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies was violating the copyright law by playing the 14 Bollywood numbers over the loudspeakers in Edens. Claiming that these numbers belonged to its members and a prior permission was necessary to play out these songs, the IPRS sought an interim stay on playing the songs at the stadium. Justice Sanjib Banerjee, however, turned down the plea.

Of the 14 songs, three came for discussion during the Court proceedings — Om Shanti Om, Mauja Mauja (Jab We Met) and Hare Ram (Bhool Bhulaiya).

Although the petition was rejected, Red Chillies Entertainment decided to avoid further controversy and assured the IPRS that it will use only those Bollywood numbers during the IPL matches at Eden that belonged to the non-members of the society.