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2024 Supreme(Online)(TEL) 26350

HIGH COURT OF TELANGANA
Not specified, Not specified
Rajkumari Indira Devi Dhanrajgir – Appellant
Versus
G. Satyaki – Respondent
O.S.No.419 of 2008



Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Smt.Dr.Y.Padmavathi
For the Respondents: Sri Dr.Venkat Reddy Donti Reddy

The court affirmed the validity of the copyright assignment to the plaintiff, ruling that it was not revoked, while finding the defendant's claims to be based on fabricated documents.

Headnote:(A) Copyright Act, 1957 - Ownership and assignment of copyright - Plaintiff claims ownership of copyrights of literary works assigned by late author to him via letter dated 02.12.1989, while defendant contends rights were revoked and transferred to her via letter dated 05.01.2006 - Court found that assignment to plaintiff was valid and not revoked - Evidence showed defendant's document was fabricated. (Paras 12, 14, 64, 80)

(B) Acquiescence and Limitation - Court ruled that the plaintiff's silence did not amount to acquiescence as the publication of works constituted a continuous cause of action. (Paras 66, 76)

Facts of the case:
The plaintiff, son of late Sri G.Seshendra Sharma, claimed ownership of literary copyrights based on a 1989 assignment letter. The defendant, claiming to be the late author's wife, asserted the copyrights were transferred to her in 2006. The court examined evidence including expert testimony on the authenticity of documents. (Paras 3, 4, 12)

Findings of Court:
The court upheld the plaintiff's claim to copyright ownership and ruled that the defendant's claims were unfounded. (Paras 63, 80)

Issues: The main issues included the validity of the copyright assignment letters and whether the suit was barred by limitation or acquiescence. (Paras 10, 64)

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the assignment of copyright to the plaintiff was valid and not revoked, emphasizing that the defendant's document was found to be fabricated. (Paras 63, 80)

Result: Appeal dismissed, affirming the trial court's judgment. (Para 80)

Table of Content
1. introduction of appeal and parties involved. (Para 1 , 2)
2. factual background of copyright ownership. (Para 3)
3. defendant's marriage and claims of copyright. (Para 7 , 8)
4. trial court's issues framed for determination. (Para 9 , 10)
5. evidence presented in court. (Para 11 , 12 , 13)
6. court's observations on evidence. (Para 14 , 15)
7. defendant's appeal against trial court's decision. (Para 16 , 17 , 18)
8. arguments presented during the appeal. (Para 19 , 20)
9. legal principles regarding additional evidence. (Para 21 , 22)
10. court's decision on additional evidence. (Para 23 , 24)
11. discussion on copyright law. (Para 25 , 26)
12. court's findings on copyright ownership. (Para 27 , 28)
13. conclusion of the court's ruling. (Para 29 , 30)
14. final determination of the case. (Para 31 , 32)
15. summary of copyright principles. (Para 33 , 34)
16. court's reasoning and final judgment. (Para 35 , 36)
17. final conclusion and dismissal of appeal. (Para 37 , 38)

JUDGMENT:

This appeal is filed by the appellant who is the defendant No.2 aggrieved by the judgment and decree dated 07.02.2018 in O.S.No.419 of 2008 on the file of the XI Additional Chief Judge, City Civil Court, Hyderabad.

2. The parties are hereinafter referred as arrayed before the trial court.

3. The respondent No.1 is the plaintiff. The plaintiff filed the suit seeking permanent injunction restraining the defendants from using, publishing, printing and passing off the copyright works titled as "My country, My people" (modern epic) "Naa-desham Naa-prajalu" and other related literary works written by late Sri G.Seshendra Sharma, who was the father of the plaintiff claiming that the plaintiff was the absolute owner of the copyright works of his father and claimed notional damages of Rs.50,000/- towards loss of income and loss of reputation along with costs of the suit.

4. The contention of the plaintiff was that he was the second son and last child of late Sri G.Seshendra Sharma and Smt.Janaki. Late Sri G.Seshendra Sharma was a famous Telugu poet and writer whose works zxwere well identified and were translated into several languages and received innumerable accolades by other academicians, his brethren, the public and literary societies alike during his lifetime. Late Sri G.Seshendra Sharma's works were known for their literary value and public response. Late Sri G.Seshendra Sharma was famously called as Guntur Seshendra Sharma. Out of his love and affection, late Sri G.Seshendra Sharma assigned the copyright works in the literature created by him vide letter dated 02.12.1989 to the plaintiff and transferred all the literary works done by him to the plaintiff. As such, the plaintiff was the sole proprietor of all the literary works written by his father late Sri G.Seshendra Sharma. The plaintiff's father did not retain any rights with him and all rights were transferred to the plaintiff. Pursuant to the letter dated 02.12.1989, the plaintiff had been publishing the books written by his father late Sri G.Seshendra Sharma. The first book was published in the month of April, 1995 titled as "Entakaalam Ee Endamaavulu". The plaintiff had also published the copy of the letter dated 02.12.1989 in the said book. Accordingly, the plaintiff published eight other books titled as "Sahitya Darshini", "Sorabu", "Swarna Hamsa", "Vachindi Votla Rutuvu", "Shodashi, Secrets of Ramayana", "Shabdam nunchi shatabdam varaku" and "Oohalo" containing the original works as well as translation of works written by his father. On 30.05.2007, the plaintiff's father late Sri G.Seshendra Sharma expired. Subsequent to his father's death, the plaintiff published his father's books posthumously beginning with a book titled "Naa Desham - Naa Prajalu", Adhunika Itihasam, "My Country - My People", modern Indian Epic in the month of October, 2007.

4.1. The plaintiff further submitted that late Sri G.Seshendra Sharma survived by his wife Smt.Janaki and other children. On 26.11.2007, there was a publi

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