[Jersey movie] Copyright infringement suit in Bombay High Court against Shahid Kapoor, producers

Writer Rajneesh Jaiswal (plaintiff) has filed a copyright infringement suit before the Bombay High Court against producers of the movie 'Jersey' and Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor [Rajneesh Jaiswal v. Dil Raju & Ors.]..Jaiswal in his plea has sought a stay on the release of the movie which is slated to hit the screens on April 22. He submitted that in 2007 he had gotten his script titled 'The Wall' registered with the former Film Writers Association (now Screenwriters Association).He claimed that the concept, story and idea from his script has been illegally plagiarised by makers of "Jersey' as well as Telugu film already released in 2019 based on his script. Jaiswal stated that there were several overlaps in his script and the stories of the films. He deduced that the plagiarised version of his script has been manipulated slightly in order to evade the scanner of plagiarism. "The defendants have unjustly enriched themselves while causing massive economic loss to the plaintiff (Jaiswal)," the suit said.Jaiswal claimed that the defendants colluded with each other to cheat and deceive him for wrongful gain by obtaining the script from a third party so that they can avoid paying royalties. "The fact that Telugu language movie is now being adapted and remade in Hindi in itself shows that huge profits have already been made in Telugu film in 2019 when it was released," it was contended. The plaintiff mentions that the registration of his script dated to 2007, which far precedes the films released and to be released. In view of this, Jaiswal stated that his rights have been violated under the Copyright Act and the defendants ought to cease-and-desist from any propagation of the plagiarised versions of the story. .In the suit filed through Solicis Lex, Jaiswal has prayed for the following reliefs: permanent injunction on release of the Hindi film 'Jersey' in theatre or any other digital medium;prohibit the defendants from distributing motion picture in any form, mode or medium of broadcast/ telecast/ screening.The suit will be heard today by Justice RI Chagla where Jaiswal will seek for stay on the release of the Hindi film, till pendency of the suit.Advocates Ameet Naik and Madhu Gadodia from Naik Naik and Co will appear for the producers.

[Jersey movie] Copyright infringement suit in Bombay High Court against Shahid Kapoor, producers

Neha Joshi

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