India: Copyright Dispute between Kriti and Bob
results in removal of both the films from YouTube
Controversy between Shirish Kunder's short film ‘Kriti’ and Nepalese filmmaker Aneel
Neupane’s short film ‘Bob’, has
resulted in the removal of both the films from YouTube. This removal is the
outcome of the allegations of both the filmmakers, on each other, for
infringement of their copyrights.
Source: Internet
The present controversy began with a Facebook post, by Aneel
Neupane, on his Official page, stating that “I’m
angry not because Mr. Shirish Kunder practically stole the plot and made it
into his film. I’m angry because we didn’t even have lunch money while shooting
'Bob', and a spot boy for 'Kriti' probably made more money than Bob’s entire
budget.
"My team and I
didn’t work our asses off just so some rich dude from India could turn it into
this and get away with it. That’s just not fair.”[1]
In reply to Neupane’s post, Shirish Kunder tweeted “To those comparing 'Kriti' with
some short film released on May 12, 2016.’Kriti' was shot in February, 2016.
Hope this settles the matter.”[2]
Aneel Neupane further contended that his film Bob was uploaded on Vimeo in October
2015, as a private video which can be shared with close friends.
In reply to Neupane’s allegation, Kunder further stated
that, I am not their friend and have no means to access Bob.
The whole controversy result in removal of Kriti from YouTube. The reason of the said
removal is highlighted as ‘This video is no longer available due to a copyright
claim by Aneel Neupane’.
On June 27, 2016, Shirish Kunder served a legal notice to
Aneel Neupane, seeking an unconditional written apology from him. In the said
notice, he also demanded that, Neupane should refrain from making any oral or
written comments on Kriti, take down Bob from the internet immediately and
refrain from publishing the same or any part thereof on any other medium. The
notice further alleged that, ‘it was
perhaps him who came across a script of Kriti — which he had shared with
"a few people" — and was then inspired to make Bob’[3].
“Assuming your position is correct that the two films are so similar, then it
is you who has infringed our client's copyright”[4],
the notice reads.
The controversy further results in the removal of Bob from YouTube. The reason for removal
reads as “This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by
Abhayanand Singh (INDIE MOVIZ PTE LTD). Abhayanand Singh of the Singapore-based
Indie Muviz Pte Ltd is the producer of Kriti.
Although the movie is blocked from YouTube, it can still be viewed on
Vimeo.
None of the parties have approached the Court for the
settlement of the controversy, but the said controversy is not likely to be
resolved by the parties on their own. It will really be interesting to observe further
developments in the field.
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