The Delhi High Court has refused to vacate the interim injunction granted in favour of Saregama India Limited in its ongoing copyright dispute with acclaimed music composer Ilaiyaraaja over ownership and exploitation rights in songs and musical works from 134 films.

Justice Tushar Rao Gedela declined to interfere with the interim order passed earlier, which restrains Ilaiyaraaja from exploiting, commercially using, issuing licences, assigning rights, or otherwise claiming ownership over the copyrighted works asserted by Saregama until further orders.

The dispute pertains to sound recordings as well as the underlying literary and musical works forming part of 134 cinematographic films. The catalogue includes several acclaimed works such as Annakkili, 16 Vayathiniley, Kavikkuyil, Bharathi, Pallavi Anu Pallavi, Mullum Malarum, Raaja Paarvai, Netrikkann and Kalyanaraman.

The High Court declined to vacate the interim protection, allowing the injunction in favour of Saregama to continue pending adjudication of the suit.