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The Madras High Court on Monday issued an ad-interim anti-piracy order in support of the upcoming Hindi movie Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, produced by Aamir Khan Films.
The injunction, issued a few days before the film's scheduled January 16 theatrical release, prohibits unapproved broadcasting, sharing, or distribution of the picture to protect its intellectual property and economic rights, as per Bar and Bench.
Judge Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy – who presided over the case Aamir Khan Films vs. BSNL and Others – granted an interim injunction on the production company's lawsuit against several internet service providers (ISPs), cable television companies, and other middlemen, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).
Growing concerns about possible leaks or illegal distribution that may affect the movie's box office possibilities and marketing momentum led the producers to move the court.
Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos is a spy comedy that marks the directorial debut of actor-comedian Vir Das, who also plays the lead character in the film. Besides Das, the ensemble cast includes Mona Singh, Imran Khan in his post-hiatus comeback to the big screen, Sharib Hashmi, Mithila Palkar, and Srushti Tawade.
The production company claimed that any unapproved distribution before release would cause ‘serious and irreversible injury’ to its business prospects due to its expectation and the changing threat landscape in the digital age.
The court's ruling highlighted how vulnerable films are to piracy in the era of online streaming and file-sharing services, where leaks may spread quickly and are difficult to prevent once they appear.
The High Court prohibited the defendants from assisting or permitting any type of unlawful broadcast or dissemination of the video until further orders were issued, noting that the risk of irreparable injury merited prompt remedy.
The judge acknowledged that the wide range of relief requested would unintentionally affect the legitimate business activities of some respondents, including ISPs and cable companies that might not be directly involved in piracy.
To address this issue, the injunction was made subject to a requirement that the producer compensate any respondent whose legitimate economic interests are negatively impacted by the ruling. This balancing aims to prevent unnecessary operational strain for intermediaries while preserving intellectual property rights.
The injunction, issued a few days before the film's scheduled January 16 theatrical release, prohibits unapproved broadcasting, sharing, or distribution of the picture to protect its intellectual property and economic rights, as per Bar and Bench.
Judge Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy – who presided over the case Aamir Khan Films vs. BSNL and Others – granted an interim injunction on the production company's lawsuit against several internet service providers (ISPs), cable television companies, and other middlemen, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).
Growing concerns about possible leaks or illegal distribution that may affect the movie's box office possibilities and marketing momentum led the producers to move the court.
Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos is a spy comedy that marks the directorial debut of actor-comedian Vir Das, who also plays the lead character in the film. Besides Das, the ensemble cast includes Mona Singh, Imran Khan in his post-hiatus comeback to the big screen, Sharib Hashmi, Mithila Palkar, and Srushti Tawade.
The production company claimed that any unapproved distribution before release would cause ‘serious and irreversible injury’ to its business prospects due to its expectation and the changing threat landscape in the digital age.
The court's ruling highlighted how vulnerable films are to piracy in the era of online streaming and file-sharing services, where leaks may spread quickly and are difficult to prevent once they appear.
The High Court prohibited the defendants from assisting or permitting any type of unlawful broadcast or dissemination of the video until further orders were issued, noting that the risk of irreparable injury merited prompt remedy.
The judge acknowledged that the wide range of relief requested would unintentionally affect the legitimate business activities of some respondents, including ISPs and cable companies that might not be directly involved in piracy.
To address this issue, the injunction was made subject to a requirement that the producer compensate any respondent whose legitimate economic interests are negatively impacted by the ruling. This balancing aims to prevent unnecessary operational strain for intermediaries while preserving intellectual property rights.
