Bombay High Court hears Section 9 petition regarding 'Project Ramayana' intellectual property rights dispute

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Published 4 November 2026

Case: Phantom Studios India Private Limited vs Allu Mantena Media Ventures Llp
Court: Bombay High Court
Decided: 3 November 2026
Statutes: Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 — s.9
Source: Indian Kanoon (Bombay HC)

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF)

In Phantom Studios India Private Limited vs Allu Mantena Media Ventures Llp, decided on 2026-11-03, the Bombay High Court heard a petition under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, concerning an Assignment Agreement dated 19 April 2024, which restricted parties from exploiting works related to 'Ramayana' until Diwali 2027.

Ratio Decidendi · Legal Principle Established

The court considered a petition for urgent interim relief under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, in relation to an Assignment Agreement that imposed restrictions on the exploitation of intellectual property rights.

Practice & Procedural Impact for Advocates

Advocates should note that Section 9 petitions can be used to seek urgent interim relief concerning intellectual property rights disputes arising from assignment agreements. Litigants involved in IP assignments with restrictive clauses should be prepared to address such petitions.

Key Legal Takeaways

1Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, allows for urgent interim relief.
2Restrictive clauses in intellectual property assignment agreements can be subject to judicial scrutiny.
3The court will examine the terms of the underlying agreement when considering interim relief.

The Legal Issue The Bombay High Court heard a petition filed by Phantom Studios India Private Limited against Allu Mantena Media Ventures Llp under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The petition sought urgent interim relief concerning an Assignment Agreement dated 19 April 2024. This agreement involved Respondent No. 8 acquiring intellectual property rights in "Project Ramayana" from Respondent No. 1. The Petitioner was a signatory to this agreement and was bound by Clause 5, which restricted parties from producing, developing, releasing, exploiting, marketing, or advertising any work related to Ramayana or its main characters, including "Hanuman," until Diwali 2027.

Court's Reasoning The court's reasoning focused on the application for urgent interim relief under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The core of the dispute revolved around the restrictive covenant in Clause 5 of the Assignment Agreement. The Petitioner, being a signatory, was subject to this clause, which imposed a moratorium on the exploitation of any work related to Ramayana or its characters until a specified date. The court was tasked with considering whether the conditions for granting interim relief under Section 9 were met, given the contractual obligations and the nature of the intellectual property rights involved.

What Follows The excerpt only indicates that the petition was filed and heard. The specific outcome of the petition, such as whether interim relief was granted or denied, is not provided in the source text. Further proceedings would determine the enforceability of the restrictive clause and the rights of the parties under the Assignment Agreement.