Written and reviewed by Adv. Tanmay S. Shirsat, Advocate, High Court of Bombay. Consultations in English, Hindi and Marathi, in person or by video call. Last updated October 2026.
Contract and Payment Disputes
Disputes commonly arise under agreements with actors, directors, writers, music composers, technicians and production houses. Typical issues include:
- Non-payment or delayed payment of fees and royalties
- Termination of engagement and replacement of artists or crew
- Disputes over screen credits and promotional obligations
- Breach of exclusivity, lock-in or non-compete terms
- Co-production and financing disputes
Many entertainment agreements contain arbitration clauses, and higher-value claims may fall under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. The correct forum and timelines are identified at the outset.
Copyright in Scripts, Music and Film Content
The Copyright Act, 1957 protects scripts, screenplays, lyrics, music, sound recordings and films. Who owns the copyright depends on authorship and the terms of engagement, and an assignment of copyright must be in writing.
- Ownership and assignment: Reviewing and enforcing agreements that transfer or license rights.
- Infringement: Action against unauthorised copying, adaptation or use of protected works.
- Moral rights: An author's right to be credited and to object to distortion of the work.
- Piracy: Seeking court orders against websites and unknown parties distributing content without permission.
Titles, Concepts and Confidentiality
Film and series titles are commonly registered with industry associations, and disputes over similar titles are frequent. Concepts and story ideas shared during pitches may also be protected through confidentiality obligations. Early documentation of what was shared, with whom and when is often decisive.
Urgent Injunctions and Personality Rights
Where a release, broadcast or publication threatens to cause serious harm, the courts can grant urgent interim relief. Courts in India have also recognised the protection of a person's name, image, voice and likeness against unauthorised commercial use. Urgent applications need complete documents and a clear chronology, prepared quickly.
- Assessing urgency: Identifying the release date and any harm that cannot be compensated later.
- Collecting evidence: Agreements, drafts, correspondence and proof of the infringing use.
- Notice or urgent filing: Sending a notice where time permits, or approaching the court directly where it does not.
- Interim hearing: Seeking an injunction or other interim directions.
- Final resolution: Settlement, arbitration or trial on the merits.
Documents to Keep Ready
- Agreements, deal memos and email confirmations
- Invoices and payment records
- Scripts, drafts and recordings with dates
- Registration certificates for titles or works, if any
- Links, screenshots or copies of the infringing material