Bombay High Court Issues Restraint on Copyrighted Music for Legend League Cricket Tournament
The Bombay High Court has restrained Absolute Legend Sports Pvt. Ltd. from using copyrighted songs owned by Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) during the ongoing Legend League Cricket (LLC) tournament, which commenced on March 11, 2026. This decision comes as the tournament features six teams and is scheduled to run until March 27, 2026.
Justice Sharmila Deshmukh, presiding over the case, highlighted the “grave urgency” presented in the plea filed by PPL. The court noted that the LLC organizers did not obtain the mandatory license required for this year’s tournament, despite having secured one in 2023. Justice Deshmukh remarked, “The action in the present case is quia timet action and apprehension that the Plaintiff’s copyrighted sound recordings will be played at the matches appears to be well-founded as in the past license was procured.”
The case, titled Phonographic Performance Limited vs Absolute Legend Sports Private Limited [Commercial Suit (L) 27133 of 2025], underscores the importance of copyright compliance in sporting events. The court granted ad-interim relief to PPL, preventing the defendants from using its copyrighted songs during the tournament.
In a separate ruling, the Bombay High Court also addressed a case involving a victim of sexual assault, where the court observed that the victim’s testimony was sufficient to convict the accused. The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting his daughter, with Justice Manish Pitale stating, “When a child is forced to suffer at the hands of her own father, the law must speak in a voice that is resolute and uncompromising.” The victim’s date of birth was confirmed as February 15, 2002, making her a minor at the time of the incidents.
The victim reported the abuse following a “Police Didi” program at her school, detailing four incidents of sexual abuse that occurred three months prior to the filing of the FIR on July 27, 2018. Justice Pitale emphasized the credibility of the victim’s testimony, asserting, “The sole testimony of the prosecutrix is enough to return a finding of conviction, so long as the evidence of the prosecutrix inspires confidence.”
As the LLC tournament progresses, the implications of the Bombay High Court’s ruling on copyright usage will be closely monitored by legal experts and sports organizers alike. Observers are keen to see how Absolute Legend Sports Pvt. Ltd. will respond to the court’s decision and whether they will seek to obtain the necessary licenses for future events.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any potential appeal by Absolute Legend Sports Pvt. Ltd. or further legal actions that may arise from the court’s ruling on copyright issues. The outcomes of these cases will likely have significant ramifications for both the sports and entertainment industries in India.
