The Hindu : New Delhi News : Plea to direct Zee Telefilms to submit CDs; High Court order on Monday

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Friday, Jun 24, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Plea to direct Zee Telefilms to submit CDs; High Court order on Monday

Staff Reporter

`Similarities in presentation technique cannot be a case of copyright violation'

NEW DELHI: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation of America on Wednesday urged the Delhi High Court to direct Zee Telefilms Limited to submit to the Court, compact discs (CDs) of all the episodes of its serial "Time Bomb." This is to verify the allegation of plagiarism that Fox Film Corporation has levelled against Zee Telefilms.

Justice Anil Kumar took the submission made by its counsel R.K. Anand on record and said he would pronounce an order on Monday.

Mr. Justice Kumar is seized of a suit by Fox Film Corporation seeking a permanent injunction on the telecast of "Time Bomb." The plaintiff has accused Zee Telefilms of plagiarising the characterisation, storyline and the script of "24," its tele-serial. Counsel for Zee Telefilms, Arun Jaitley, said his client could not be accused of violating the copyright of the defendant as similarities in presentation technique could not be a case of copyright violation.

There were many films with similar themes with similar techniques and allegations of copyright violation were not made. As the presentation techniques were technology-enabled, it would not be a copyright violation.On the allegation that Zee Telefilms Limited had copied the window technique from its serial, Mr. Jaitley submitted that the technique was now being used all over the world. Film or serial producers and news channels used it to make their presentations more effective and attractive.

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