Police, DoT told to act on plea against infringement

IP RIGHTS OF SRIMANTHUDU

Hyderabad: Two separate and independent orders by the High Court at Hyderabad on Thursday directed the police and the department of telecom to consider representation against infringement of IP Rights of the Telugu film Srimanthudu. Justice Vilas Afzalpurkar and Justice AV Sesha Sai made the orders in two independent writ petitions filed by M/s Maitri Movie Makers.

The petitioner contended that they had earlier approached the City Civil Court for a ‘John Doe’ order. By the said order the public at large are injuncted by the orders of the court. Apprehending piracy of the new Mahesh Babu starrer, the producers approached the Civil Court against the public at large naming them as ‘Ashok Kumar’ instead of ‘John Doe’ as done in the west.

The X Additional Chief Judge issued an injunction against piracy on July 31. It is complained in the present writ petition that though representations were made to the police in the states of Telangana and AP and the Vigilance wing of the department of Telecommunication and Electronics and IT, they had not taken a necessary preparatory action.

It is contended by the petitioner that the Civil Court order required the authorities to ensure that various ISP (Internet Service Protocol) to ensure implementation of the injunction order. They complained that though a similar injunction was granted in favour of the blockbuster film Baahubali, the authorities did not act on representation about the infringing material over the internet. To prevent a similar experience, the petitioners obtained the present order against the police and the authorities.