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Contempt notices issued to The Legend of Maula Jatt team

Contempt notices issued to The Legend of Maula Jatt team

Makers of the original 1979 Maula Jatt claim Lashari's film is being marketed in violation of copyrights of the original
Updated 21 Jan, 2019

The Legend of Maula Jatt is being marketed in violation of copyrights of the original classic, claimed Muttaqi Sarwar, the son of Sarwar Bhatti, who produced the hit 1979 film starring Sultan Rahi and Mustafa Qureshi.

Muttaqi spoke to Dawn at an exclusive and ticketed screening of the film held at a restaurant in Taxali Gate.

“Right after the release of Waar, its director Bilal Lashari announced that he was going to make The Legend of Maula Jatt, and my father, who had made Maula Jatt, told him that since we owned the trademark and the intellectual copyright, Lashari cannot use it without purchasing the rights from us. The other option was to coproduce,” he said.

In 2017, Mr Sarwar filed a suit before the Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan) tribunal seeking an injunctive order against the exhibition of The Legend of Maula Jatt.

Muttaqi, who also heads Bahoo Films Corporation, said that the tribunal had restrained Lashari and the producers from using the title, characters and dialogues, adding that the case was still pending. They also filed a case with the Federal Investigation Agency against the team of the new film, and an inquiry was ongoing.

On Friday, the IPO tribunal issued contempt notices to producer Ammara Hikmat, director Bilal Lashari, writer Nasir Adeeb, the star cast of the new film, the information secretary and chairmen of all censor boards. “I sent warning notices to everyone associated with the film, including the lead actors, to distance themselves from the project since it was under trial, but none of them listened,” claimed Muttaqi.

He went on to say that the young generation, who “pretended to revert to classic Lollywood styles”, actually lacked respect for it.

Speaking to Dawn, Sarwar Bhatti said: “People must understand that intellectual copyrights are as important as property rights. And in foreign countries if stars can be awarded punishments the same should be done in our country. They should not be above the law.”


Originally published in Dawn, January 20th, 2019

Comments

Zaheer Jan 20, 2019 11:21am
Support your stance if things are illegal
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Maula Jan 20, 2019 12:02pm
Oh please, It's been 40 years. Let the franchise redeem and ask for royalty afterwards.
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Sabir Pakistani Jan 20, 2019 12:58pm
Ok the son of the person who produced first Maula Jatt is claiming what? Nonsense where do these people come from ?? Bring the movie to cinema and let us enjoy
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waleed Jan 20, 2019 01:03pm
support the stance of sarwar bhatti. intellectual copyrights are important and nobody is above the law. i hope the court grants relieve.. it is about time our country also understands copyright laws
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Najum Jan 20, 2019 01:44pm
This movie should share its profits or be banned from releasing.
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Adil Jan 20, 2019 02:20pm
Its blatant copy if you didnt buy the rights to the film and pay them royalty.
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Beiging China Jan 20, 2019 02:46pm
Intellectual property should be respected, else no one will trust the country. Movie must change the tittle and dubbing
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Zak Jan 20, 2019 03:40pm
Dont start this petty mindedness when pakistan film industry is picking very fast.
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Right Voice Jan 20, 2019 04:31pm
Please recognize rights of original film maker and pay him for using his intellectual property.
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M Bilal Khan Jan 20, 2019 04:33pm
It is due to these ill, pseudo and corrupt minded people our film industry is not on rivival track. You shoul be proud instead of showing jealousy with producers and casts of the film.... From my side shame on you Srwar sab for this coward reaction.
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Phoney_Baloney Jan 20, 2019 04:36pm
He is right. He deserves to be compensated since his company was the original creator
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Asif Jan 20, 2019 07:40pm
Its not legit unless rights are respected. Bilal Lashari needs to do the right thing before this film is released.
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Dr Ansari Jan 20, 2019 08:46pm
Intellectual property (IP)and copyright (CR) violations should be take seriously! IP and CR theft should be prevented and violators ought to be punished! People at large and businessmen ought to be educated about implications of violating IP and CR at national and international levels!
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Sana Jan 20, 2019 10:02pm
@M Bilal Khan “Shame on Sanwar Bhatti”. The film belonged to Sanwar Bhatti. Its their hardwork, idea and concept. Shame on Bilal Lashari for plagiarizing it without buying the copyright of the film and paying them their rightful dues. Its Bilal Lashari who voilated laws not Sanwar Bhatti.
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Ahsan Gul Jan 20, 2019 11:16pm
Good. This Mulla Jaat movie must be stopped at any cost. What is happening to our producers and writer? Can't they give some current topics that our country is facing or some other story that may inspire our young generation? Sad to see our actors who just for the money signe for these useless title epics!
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Uzair Jan 21, 2019 12:04am
Usually the in most places, to use a copyrighted work, one needs to get permissions from, and if required, pay royalties to the heirs of copyright holder for up to 30 years after the death of original copyright holder. Afterwards it becomes part of public domain that anyone can use. If they are indeed violating copyright laws, it'll be best if they reach a settlement, since it would be shame to let all the work done on this film go to waste. But that is at the discretion of the copyright holder.
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NK Jan 21, 2019 12:23am
The real Moala Jutt just woke up
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Noori Nath Jan 21, 2019 01:29am
Does not make sense. Unless Bahoo films have not purchased rights from the writer , all literary rights for title, characters and dialogue belong to the writer. This is how it works in original IPs. If there’s no such agreement, and writer has agreed to let makers of The Legend of Maula Jatt use characters, dialogue and story he wrote, then these guys should chill out and should get more awareness first.
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Speak_Truth Jan 21, 2019 03:38am
Silly Bilal.
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white noise Jan 21, 2019 05:40am
Not only that, they copied fight set and shots from 'Gladiator' also, wait till Universal Studios find about this one.
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Shahji Jan 21, 2019 08:35am
Nasir Adeeb did not created the character of "Maula Jatt" as claimed. This is Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi brainchild in famous and prized Afsana called "Gandasa". The movies " Wahshi Jatt. Maula Jatt were produced by Sarwar Bhatti and directed by Hasan Askri. Legendry performances of Sultan Rahi and Mustafa Qureshi. Strong dialogues simple story and low budget movie. New film producers must obtain proper rights to use the characters and plot from original porcucers. This is their intellectual property.
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yasir ahmed Jan 21, 2019 10:48am
@Sabir Pakistani no wonder we never acknowledge the intellectual property rights in Pakistan, people like you does not even know the meaning of it and comment on such issues.
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Nouri Jan 21, 2019 12:12pm
@M Bilal Khan - Rather than condemning theft of a classic Punjabi film ..you are condemning the victim. Only in Pakistan we can do this
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mani Jan 21, 2019 12:28pm
Cinema will not progress in Pakistan till the film business turns into a film industry. The first step is to recognize intellectual property. The fact is Maula Jatt is someone's creation and it belongs to them. If some one wants it they should ask for permission.
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Payal Gandhi Jan 21, 2019 05:39pm
@M Bilal Khan its not shame. That's how it always works. You can buy the rights. You cant steal someone's idea and not pay them, would be like stealing your company and not paying you for it. Works like that in India, USA and all over the world where piracy and copyright is taken seriously. The director and everyone associated with it is at fault. Sarvar was ready to co produce/ sell rights from the start so he's correct!
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PakistaniPakistani Jan 21, 2019 10:47pm
I'd love to watch the movie myself but respect the Intellectual Property rights please.
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Ahmed Jan 22, 2019 12:21am
Isn't copyright has expired on original film as it was created in 1979?
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