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The legal battle over Legend of Maula Jatt continues in Lahore High Court

The legal battle over Legend of Maula Jatt continues in Lahore High Court

That said, the team's lawyer has shared that they have not been restrained from releasing the upcoming flick
18 Mar, 2019

And the fight over the legend that is Maula Jatt continues.

Muttaqi Sarwar, the son of Sarwar Bhatti, who produced the hit 1979 film starring Sultan Rahi and Mustafa Qureshi has been claiming for a while now that the upcoming Maula Jatt flick directed by Bilal Lashari is being marketed in violation of the original classic's copyrights.

Mr Sarwar has now revealed that he has submitted an application for a stay order in the Lahore High Court to prohibit him from using the name (or similar title), character and dialogues that violate intellectual property law. In his petition, he claims that Maula Jutt is being remade illegally and he owns all copyrights related to the film.

However, Ahmed Pansota, the lawyer for The Legend of Maula Jatt team shared, "The order issued by the Honourable Lahore High Court, today, is being misreported in the media. In no way have we been restrained from releasing our movie, The Legend of Maula Jatt. The Honourable High Court has merely directed us to not use any unauthorised copyright or trademarks. To this extent, there is no change in the status quo. We are not using any unauthorised copyright or trademarks, anyway. We have a valid Copyright Certificate on the script for the Legend of Maula Jatt. The Honourable High Court is cognisant of our Copyright Certificate."

He added, “It must be also be stated that media should bear restraint in reporting and discussing today’s Order since there is no written order as of yet.“

“Mr Sarwar Bhatti has created pre-mature and unnecessary hue and cry. Mr Bhatti appears to be using the sacred platform of this second highest forum for the dispensation of justice in Pakistan for pressurising the team of the Legend of Maula Jutt. Mr Bhatti’s malicious intent to mislead the general public is laid bare through such conduct. This propaganda is being spewed to discredit the team of the Legend of Maula Jutt.”

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.

A few months ago, an IPO tribunal had 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.

Comments

m. saeed awan Mar 18, 2019 07:57pm
Same title film should not be released. Maula Jutt of Sultan Rahi and Mustafa Qureshi is unique like Heer Ranjha. No need for remakes of such classic films. Plz choose another title if you have capacity.
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Jawwad Mar 18, 2019 08:32pm
These petty fights will serve no one but our detractors. Who cares who owns copyrights and dialogues. The movie will Pakistan can produce as good if not better movies than their counterparts in Bollywood. Let it release.
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RIZ Mar 19, 2019 01:06am
Trailer looked pretty good I think they should let this movie release it will be good for Pakistani cinema.
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Mani Mar 19, 2019 03:38am
Standards must be maintained for the movie business to become an industry. Intellectual property copyrights must be adhered to, as they are the backbone of any creative industry.
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N abidai Mar 19, 2019 07:03am
The old movie and new movie are totally different ! It is like a Legend of Robin Hood , each movie have the concept of Robin Hood ,helping the poor ,but it is told in a different way! The original maker could not make the new version in millions years!
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Razi Mar 19, 2019 03:57pm
@Jawwad The one who owns the IP does care as it seems and rightly so
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Muzammal Ali Mar 19, 2019 09:04pm
I can't fathom a simplistic way: earning the copyrights from Sarwar Bhatti's son by paying him some amount. If this, as it is being called the highest budget taker, has potential to be the block buster, then just get the previous team of Maula Jutt with you, Bilal Lashari, unless they are greedy for hefty monetary gains, which is not a fair situation...
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Bilal Mar 20, 2019 06:24pm
I think lashari should buy the rights from bahoo films and pay them royalty after release that would be a better win win
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Bilal Mar 20, 2019 06:27pm
Lashari should buy the rights and pay them royalty after release I think that would be a better win win
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