Copyright infringement: EMI issues notice to Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan

E-Paper | March 01, 2026

Another copyright infringement issue has arisen — and this time it is no one but the singer from one of the oldest musical families in South Asia, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan of the Patiala household. It appears that Shafqat, who just released the music video for 'Dil Dharakne Ka Sabab' has violated the copyrights of the song, which belongs to EMI Pakistan.

According to the legal notice sent to Times Music, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan and Naseeruddin Shah, the song was first performed by Ghulam Ali in 1983 for album Meri Pasand, followed by Madam Noor Jehan and Salamat Ali in 1984 and by Firdousi Begum in 1986 for albums Noor Jehan Geet Aur Ghazlain and Gali Gali Meri Yaad Bichi Hai respectively.

An excerpt of the legal notice issued by EMI Pakistan — Courtesy: EMI

The notice wants a clarification from the parties and wants the company and performers to abide by the copyrights laws and respond within three days or else strict legal action will be taken.

The case comes in soon after the fued over 'Bhar Do Jholi Meri''s rendition in Bajrangi Bhaijaan. This again throws the same question at the concerned authorities about the copyrights violations as to where do musicians or performers draw the line and what becomes of those who do get in hot waters.

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Naxalite

Jul 31, 2015 01:07pm

While Artists are Trying hard to lift Music Industry, EMI is busy smashing Lawsuits on their heads.

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Noshin

Jul 31, 2015 01:15pm

No one is above the law!

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Naheem

Jul 31, 2015 01:19pm

@Naxalite The orginal artists should receive revenue from this and credit we should give credit to EMI for standing up for the Pakistan music artists the indian music labels have been having a free ride up till now and keeping the proceeds from indian sales to them selfs....

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EAA

Jul 31, 2015 02:03pm

@Naxalite working hard = developing original content = hard to do being lazy = copying other people's materials and releasing it as their own. If artists want to lift the music industry they should come up with new, original material.

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Striver

Jul 31, 2015 03:59pm

@Naheem Yes the original artist and the lyricist should receive the royalties, but even where the songs are reproduced by permission of the owner such as EMI (Pakistan) how much will the original artists get? We all know the answer to that. In Profits Vs Artist who wins?

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Farhan

Jul 31, 2015 04:17pm

Copyrights of songs should cease after a certain number of years.

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Talha

Jul 31, 2015 04:34pm

Shafqat Amanat Ali must have known who originally sang this song. How did he perform it without taking permission?

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Zubaida khan

Jul 31, 2015 05:04pm

How can this be a copyright violation? A copy was not made, he resang it in his own voice. Copyright violation would if you may a duplicate copy and star to sell it. You are still allowed to make copies for archiving purposes.

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Naeem Syed

Jul 31, 2015 05:11pm

EMI is itself guilty of encouraging Copy right infringement. It has been the only source for the entertainment industry to market their songs and as soon as a song becomes a hit it has encouraged others to make rip offs so it can sell more and pocket the profits. I can give you countless examples of this and I know this for a fact as my father was a victim of this.

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daada

Jul 31, 2015 05:16pm

It is one thing to revive traditional songs and another to keep recycling old stuff. If you want to sing something from someone else they should be compensated. Not only is this fair, it forces the artists to be original and weeds out the fakers. "ART"ist is supposed to create art not become a parrot.

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Jul 31, 2015 07:50pm

Aaahh.... the joy of doing NO WORK and hoping to earn MILLIONS by simply suing.

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Aziz

Jul 31, 2015 09:17pm

@Striver All production companies have a contract with the artist. Usually it is a certain percent of the sale. So Artist and their heir make money as long as the song is selling.

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sheraz

Jul 31, 2015 10:21pm

The ghazal has been sung by Shahnaz Begum, Noor Jahan, Ghulam Ali, Shabnam Majeed, Asha, Pankaj Udhas, and many others. There are minor to major variations in the compositions for the same poetry. There are significant variations in their respective orchestration as well. Understandably, all of existing compositions are not the property of EMI. The legal notice is ambigious since it does not specify about the particular composition of which EMI retains the rights. The legal notice further does not inform whether EMI has permanent rights for the composition, orchestration and poetry or time so

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Saleem Shahid

Aug 01, 2015 12:24am

Would EMI forward the royalties to the original singer and poet?? Highly doubtful.

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