T-Series and Guru Randhawa Sued For False Ownership Claims On Multiple Hit Songs

GURU RANDHAWA COPYRIGHT CASE

Ikram Shapribhan Singh, known professionally as Vee, has initiated legal action against Guru Randhawa, T-Series, and Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. for alleged copyright infringement.

The case, scheduled to be heard by the Bombay High Court, centers on claims that T-Series unlawfully utilized Vee’s sound recordings, works, and performances without obtaining the necessary authorization or permission.

Rolling Stone India reached out to T-Series, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., and Randhawa’s team for comments.

According to the complaint, the defendants allegedly asserted ownership of Vee's works, resulting in substantial and irreparable financial and reputational damage to him.

The dispute traces back to Vee’s collaboration with Guru Randhawa, which began in December 2016. Vee alleges that the "Moon Rise" singer had assured him of financial compensation, proper credits, and a 50 percent share in publishing royalties for his contributions. However, none of these promises were formalized into a written agreement, and Vee claims he was not adequately credited for multiple tracks, including the hit “High Rated Gabru.”

The situation escalated when, according to Vee, an adaptation of "High Rated Gabru" was included in the 2018 film Nawabzaade. Despite his significant contributions to the song’s arrangement and production, Vee asserts that he is only credited as a "music producer/arranger" on YouTube, with no acknowledgment on other platforms.

The complaint further alleges that Vee, based on their mutual understanding, wrote and produced nearly 25 tracks for T-Series and other defendants. These tracks were used not only for musical compositions but also in their arrangement, engineering, and production. Despite repeated assurances from the defendants, the copyright assignment agreements were never finalized, resulting in Vee not receiving payments when the tracks are played globally.

The situation reached a breaking point in December 2022, when Vee discovered that his name had been removed as the "writer" in the PRS metadata, cutting off his entitlement to publishing royalties. Additionally, any previous credits, even if incorrect, were entirely removed from DSPs.

In response to these alleged violations, Vee has filed a lawsuit against the defendants, accusing them of unjustly profiting from his work and deliberately withholding proper credit. The suit also notes that several of the songs in question, including "High Rated Gabru," "Lahore," "Patola," and "Surma Surma," have been taken down from YouTube. Furthermore, another prominent female singer-songwriter in the Indian music industry has also filed a lawsuit against T-Series and Guru Randhawa for unauthorized use and copyright infringement of her work.

In a statement to Rolling Stone India, Vee remarked, “After years of patience, restraint, and trust in the relationships I had, I am now compelled to take legal action to enforce my rights. I trust the legal system to protect my works and rights.”