SALIM KHAN Vs. SUMEET PRAKASH MEHRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The above Suit is filed by the Plaintiffs, inter alia for restraining the Defendants by a permanent order and injunction from infringing the copyright of the story, dialogues and screen play of the Hindi Feature Film "Zanjeer" produced in the year 1973 and for a permanent mandatory order of injunction restraining the Defendants from in any manner exhibiting, releasing, displaying, communicating to the public anywhere in the world the remake film "Zanjeer" in Hindi and Telugu languages or any other language. The Plaintiffs have also taken out the above Notice of Motion seeking an order and injunction restraining the Defendants from in any manner exhibiting, releasing, displaying, communicating to the public anywhere in the world the said remake film "Zanjeer" and its trailers in Hindi and Telugu languages or any other language and also from proceeding with filming or carrying out any preproduction or postproduction or other work in respect of the said remake film "Zanjeer" in Hindi and Telugu languages or any other language.

(2.) Plaintiff No. 1 Shri Salim Khan and Plaintiff No.2 Shri Javed Akhtar are wellknown authors and writers of story, screen play and dialogues in the Indian Film industry for the last several decades. The Plaintiffs have together written stories, screen play and dialogues of several blockbuster movies like Sholay, Zanjeer, Trishul, Deewar, Andaz, etc. The Plaintiffs have received several awards and accolades for their story, dialogues and screen play for several movies. The Plaintiff No. 2 is also a wellknown poet and lyricist and has won numerous National Awards for the songs written by him. The Plaintiff No. 2 was also awarded the Padma Bhushan in the year 2007.

(3.) Defendant Nos. 1 to 3 are the sons and only legal heirs of late Shri Prakash Mehra, who was a wellknown film producer and Director. Defendant No. 4 Adai Mehra Productions Pvt. Ltd. is a Private Limited Company duly incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 and Defendant No. 5 Flying Turtle Films is a partnership concern. Defendant No. 4 has entered into a CoProducers Agreement dated 25th August, 2011, with Defendant No. 5, whereby the Defendant No.4 has agreed to take Defendant No. 5 as a CoProducer of the said remake film "Zanjeer" in Hindi and Tamil languages. Defendant No. 6 is a Private Limited Company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956. Defendant Nos. 4 and 5 have entered into an Agreement dated 26th January, 2012, with Defendant No.6, whereby the Defendant No.6 has agreed to be associated with Defendant Nos. 4 and 5 to finance, produce, market and distribute the said remake film "Zanjeer" in Hindi and Tamil languages.