In a significant interim order, the Delhi High Court has stepped in to protect the commercial rights linked to the upcoming film Drishyam 3, directing that no third-party OTT agreements be created until further notice. The case stems from a dispute between Amazon Prime Video and the film’s producer, Aashirwad Cinemas, over a prior licensing agreement that allegedly granted the streaming platform preferential rights over future instalments of the popular franchise. The court’s order ensures that the status quo is maintained while the matter is being resolved.
Dispute over licensing agreement
The conflict revolves around a master video licence agreement signed in 2020 between Amazon and Aashirwad Cinemas, the production house associated with Mohanlal. According to Amazon, the agreement included a clause giving it the first right to negotiate streaming rights for any future films in the Drishyam series. The company argued that the producer could not engage with third parties without first completing negotiations under this clause. The dispute escalated when the production house reportedly terminated the agreement during ongoing discussions and explored alternative offers.
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Court grants interim protection
Hearing the plea, Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar issued an ex parte order restraining the producers from creating or dealing with third-party non-linear digital rights related to Drishyam 3. This includes rights for the original Malayalam version as well as dubbed and remade versions. The court’s intervention effectively safeguards Amazon’s claimed contractual rights until a final resolution is reached.
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Settlement talks underway
During the latest hearing, both sides informed the court that discussions are ongoing and a possible settlement could be reached soon. The matter has now been listed for further hearing in mid-May, with the interim injunction continuing until then. The case highlights the growing importance of digital streaming rights in the film industry and the legal complexities surrounding high-value content deals in the OTT space.
