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2008 Supreme(Del) 406

149 (2008) DELHI LAW TIMES 399 (DB)
DELHI HIGH COURT
Dr. Mukundakam Sharma, CJ. & Reva Khetrapal, J.
PEARSON EDUCATION INC -Appellant
Versus
S.M. SAIFULLAH AND OTHERS -Respondents
FAO(OS) No. 319/2007 and CM Nos. 11360-61/2007 and 4314 of 2008
Decided on 3.4.2008

Advocate Appeared
For the Appellant:Mr. Rajiv Nayar, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Akash Chittranshi and Mr.
Rahul Berwar, Advocates.
For the Respondent No.1:Md. Mobin Akhtar, Advocate.
For the Respondent No. 2-3:Mr. Vishal Arun, Advocate.

Violation of copyright is determined by examining the form, manner, arrangement, and expression of the copyrighted work, as well as the intention to copy the original work.

Headnote:

Copyright Infringement - Violation of Copyright - Code of Civil Procedure - Order 39 Rules 1 and 2, Order 39 Rule 4 - AIR 1978 SC 1613

Fact of the Case:

The appellant appealed against the order passed by the Single Judge, which disposed of applications under Order 39 Rules 1 and 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The dispute arose from an alleged violation of copyright by the respondents in their scientific and technical books.

Finding of the Court:

The Single Judge held that the respondents' books did not infringe the copyright of the appellant, as the themes were common in scientific and technical books and the expression of ideas was not identical.

Issues: The main issue was whether the respondents' books infringed the copyright of the appellant's work.

Ratio Decidendi: The court applied the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in KG. Anand v. M/s. Delux Films and Others, emphasizing that violation of copyright is confined to the form, manner, arrangement, and expression of the copyrighted work. The court also considered the similarities and differences in the expression of ideas and the intention to copy the original work.

Final Decision: The appeal was allowed, and an injunction was issued restraining the respondents from publishing, offering for sale, or advertising their publications titled Computer Networks, Language Processors, and Theory of Computation. The court clarified that the observations made in the appeal would have no bearing on the merits of the suit.

JUDGMENT Dr. Mukundakam Sharma, C.J.-This appeal is directed against the judgment and order passed by the learned Single Judge disposing of a number of applications. The appellant herein is particularly aggrieved by the order passed whereby two applications, one under Order 39 Rules 1 and 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure moved by the appellant/plaintiff and the other under order 39 Rule 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure moved by the respondents/defendants were disposed of. At the time of issuance of summons in the suit, an ad interim injunction in respect of alleged violation of copyright by the defendants was granted. The respondents/defendants filed a reply to the aforesaid application and also filed an independent application under Order 39 Rule 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure praying for vacation of interim injunction which was granted.

2. After hearing arguments on both the aforesaid applications, the impugned order was passed, which is under challeage in this appeal. The learned Single Judge, while passing the aforesaid order held that the respondent/defendant has merely reproduced some definitions, arrangement of topics, arrangement of analysis and, therefore, it cannot be prima facie said that the books of the defendant/respondent were copies of the plaintiffs books.

3. Having held, thus, the learned Single Judge proceeded to observe that it is an undisputed fact that the books of the respondents were on scientific and technical subjects written to meet the requirements of the students of universities pursuing studies in MCA, etc. and that the said books were bound to have discussion only on the common engineering topics. After recording the aforesaid findings, the learned Single Judge held that on the basis of a few definitions, it cannot be said that the respondents have infringed the copyright of the appellant and that the appellant has miserably failed in showing prima facie that there was an infringement of copyright of the plaintiffs work. The aforesaid findings and the conclusions arrived at by the learned Single Judge are under challenge in this appeal on which we have heard learned Counsel appearing for the parties.

4. The learned Counsel appearing for the appellant has submitted before us that the learned Single Judge has misread and misapplied the law relating to violation of copyright and thereby recorded a wrong finding. Counsel appearing for the respondents, however, submitted before us that the books of the respondents were highly scientific and technical books and the principles and theories being of a technical nature would always have to be identical and same to those of the theories and principles mentioned in the books of the appellant and, therefore, the same cannot in any manner amount to infringement or violation of the copyright.

5. Counsel appearing for the parties during the course of their arguments referred to and relied upon the decision of the Supreme Court in KG. Anand v. M/s. Delux Films and Others, reported as AIR 1978 SC 1613. The said decision relates to-the question of violation of copyright and specifically deals with as to how such a fact could be determined. In paragraph 45 of the said judgment, the Supreme Court elucidated the law when it observed as follows:

"45. Thus, the position appears to be that an idea, principle, theme, or subject matter or historical or legendary facts being common property cannot be the subject matter of copyright of a particular person. It is always open to any person to choose an idea as a subject matter and develop it in his own manner and give expression to the idea by treating it differently from others. Where two writers write on the same subject similarities are bound to occur because the central idea of both is the same but the similarities or coincidences by themselves cannot lead to an irresistible inference of plagiarism or piracy. Take for instance the great poet and dramatist Shakespeare most of whose plays are based on Greek-Roman and British m
































































































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