Author moves HC to prevent publisher from copying her work

An author of a book on Kashmir today moved the Madras High Court, seeking to prevent a Delhi-based publisher from infringing on her copyright, pending disposal of the suit.
When the application by Suchitra came up, Justice K Kalyanasundaram granted the interim injunction against publisher Hachette India and Pradeep Damodaran, restraining them from 'passing off' and enabling others to pass off her book titled "Borderlands" or its contents, described as "A Journey Through India's Border".
"This court is of the opinion that a prima facie case has been made out and the balance of convenience is in favour of the applicant (Suchitra)," the judge said.

"Accordingly, there shall be an order of interim injunction for a period of four weeks. Notice returnablein four weeks. Private notice also permitted," he said.
The petitioner submitted that on October 24, 2016, the publisher Hachette had approached her for publishing her work, but she had turned down the offer as she was already in talks with three other publishing houses.
She further submitted that last month, she came to know that Hachette was publishing a book authored by Damodaran, titled "Borderland," describing it as a "Travel along India's boundary."
Damodaran had adopted an identical narration and his book was a replica of her work, creating an impression that was a copyrighted product, she alleged.

Suchitra claimed that she had invested money, time and effort in publishing her work, but the publishing house and the author had copied her title and the book proposal with mala fide intention to make illegal and immoral profit.