Aamir Khan filed a petition in the Bombay HC against the CCI after they issued a ‘show-cause’ notice accusing him of forming a cartel to ‘corner’ multiplex owners. DSK Legal is representing Aamir Khan..The Competition Commission of India had asked several producers in Bollywood to ‘show-cause’ after accusing them of forming a cartel to “corner” multiplex owners. Actor-Producer Aamir Khan, who also owns Aamir Khan Productions, has moved the Bombay High Court against the show cause notice..Mumbai-based DSK Legal is representing Aamir Khan. Anand Desai, Managing Partner of DSK Legal told Bar & Bench, “Aamir Khan has been our client for many years and I am personally involved in this case. Since I don’t go to courts much, we have engaged Mr. Hidayathullah as outside counsel to argue on behalf of Aamir Khan.”.Initially, the CCI wrote to Aamir Khan Productions, a Company, but is now writing to Aamir Khan in his personal capacity. The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission itself, had passed an order against Multiplex owners for having behaved as a ‘cartel’. “Also, there has been a settlement and understanding between the Multiplex owners and producers now and therefore it is unclear as to why the Competition Commission has issued a notice to him,” said Desai. Additional Solicitor General incharge of the Mumbai High Court, Darius Khambatta argued for the CCI..Kingfisher has filed a similar writ petition, questioning the jurisdiction of CCI. The matter is listed before Justices J.N. Patel and C.L. Pangarkar who have adjourned the hearing to February 26..On a separate issue, Aamir Khan who has been on the panel of Copyright Board has submitted his resignation to the Human Resource Development Minister, Kapil Sibal, following a verbal dual between him and lyricist, Javed Akhtar on the issue of royalty on songs..The 3 idiots’ star had, agreeing to the producers’ stand, commented that the success of a song depended not only on the efforts of the lyricist, music composer and singer but also that of an actor. Javed Akhtar retaliated with the example of the song, ‘Papa Kehte Hain’ from Aamir’s ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’ which made him an instant heartthrob, long before he was an acclaimed artist..Speaking to Indian Express, Javed Akhtar had said, “All over the world, writers and musicians get their due credit and royalty for their creations. In India, right from the first contract itself, the writers and the lyricists lose their rights. The press note from the government itself states that they work like bonded labourers. This is true even in the non-film world. A musician of the caliber and status of Ustad Bismillah Khan had to die in abject poverty! Isn’t that shameful? All that we are trying to do is to make sure that the creators also get a chance to own their creation.”.The Copyright Panel was formed on February 14 to discuss the film industry’s concerns about amendments to the Copyright Act. The proposed amendments would attempt to maintain the balance between the creators (writers, lyricists and music composers) and the owners (producers)..Shamnad Basheer’s article explains the controversy in detail.
Aamir Khan filed a petition in the Bombay HC against the CCI after they issued a ‘show-cause’ notice accusing him of forming a cartel to ‘corner’ multiplex owners. DSK Legal is representing Aamir Khan..The Competition Commission of India had asked several producers in Bollywood to ‘show-cause’ after accusing them of forming a cartel to “corner” multiplex owners. Actor-Producer Aamir Khan, who also owns Aamir Khan Productions, has moved the Bombay High Court against the show cause notice..Mumbai-based DSK Legal is representing Aamir Khan. Anand Desai, Managing Partner of DSK Legal told Bar & Bench, “Aamir Khan has been our client for many years and I am personally involved in this case. Since I don’t go to courts much, we have engaged Mr. Hidayathullah as outside counsel to argue on behalf of Aamir Khan.”.Initially, the CCI wrote to Aamir Khan Productions, a Company, but is now writing to Aamir Khan in his personal capacity. The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission itself, had passed an order against Multiplex owners for having behaved as a ‘cartel’. “Also, there has been a settlement and understanding between the Multiplex owners and producers now and therefore it is unclear as to why the Competition Commission has issued a notice to him,” said Desai. Additional Solicitor General incharge of the Mumbai High Court, Darius Khambatta argued for the CCI..Kingfisher has filed a similar writ petition, questioning the jurisdiction of CCI. The matter is listed before Justices J.N. Patel and C.L. Pangarkar who have adjourned the hearing to February 26..On a separate issue, Aamir Khan who has been on the panel of Copyright Board has submitted his resignation to the Human Resource Development Minister, Kapil Sibal, following a verbal dual between him and lyricist, Javed Akhtar on the issue of royalty on songs..The 3 idiots’ star had, agreeing to the producers’ stand, commented that the success of a song depended not only on the efforts of the lyricist, music composer and singer but also that of an actor. Javed Akhtar retaliated with the example of the song, ‘Papa Kehte Hain’ from Aamir’s ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’ which made him an instant heartthrob, long before he was an acclaimed artist..Speaking to Indian Express, Javed Akhtar had said, “All over the world, writers and musicians get their due credit and royalty for their creations. In India, right from the first contract itself, the writers and the lyricists lose their rights. The press note from the government itself states that they work like bonded labourers. This is true even in the non-film world. A musician of the caliber and status of Ustad Bismillah Khan had to die in abject poverty! Isn’t that shameful? All that we are trying to do is to make sure that the creators also get a chance to own their creation.”.The Copyright Panel was formed on February 14 to discuss the film industry’s concerns about amendments to the Copyright Act. The proposed amendments would attempt to maintain the balance between the creators (writers, lyricists and music composers) and the owners (producers)..Shamnad Basheer’s article explains the controversy in detail.