The Madras High Court has ruled against streaming giant Netflix in a copyright infringement case filed by actor Dhanush. The case revolves around the unauthorized use of footage from Dhanush's film "Naanum Rowdy Daan" in the Nayanthara documentary "Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale," which aired on Netflix.
Dhanush's production house, Wunderbar, alleged that Netflix and the documentary's creators, including Nayanthara and her husband Vignesh Sivan, used behind-the-scenes footage from "Naanum Rowdy Daan" without permission. They sought an injunction against Netflix and the other defendants.
Netflix argued that the case should be dismissed, claiming that Dhanush had not properly obtained leave to sue all the defendants and that the case lacked urgency since the documentary had already been released.
However, Justice Abdul Quddhose rejected Netflix's arguments and dismissed their application. The court has scheduled a further hearing on February 5th to consider Dhanush's application for an interim injunction.
This legal battle highlights the ongoing challenges surrounding copyright protection in the digital age, particularly in the context of documentaries and the use of archival footage. The Madras High Court's decision could have significant implications for how copyright issues are handled in the Indian film industry and the streaming landscape.
