Why music rights violations pose a bigger risk to films

The legal battle between composer Ilaiyaraaja and the makers of Tamil film Good Bad Ugly brought the spotlight back on the risk to wider exhibition or streaming of films even if one aspect of production, such as music, violates intellectual property rights.

- Lata Jha [e-mail]

Last month, Madras High Court restrained Mythri Movie Makers from using Ilaiyar-aaja’s songs in the film. Earlier in April, the music composer had sent a legal notice to the producers for using three of his songs in the film without consent, demanding ₹5 crore compensation and asking them to remove the songs.