HC stays order granting copyright of ‘Masud Rana Series’ to ghostwriter

The High Court today stayed for a month the order of Bangladesh Copyright Office that granted the copyright of 260 books of the popular espionage-thriller "Masud Rana Series" and 50 books of "Kuasha Series" to its ghostwriter Sheikh Abdul Hakim.

The court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why this order of the copyright office should not be declared illegal.

Cultural affairs secretary, copyright office and its registrar and copyright board have been made respondents to the rule.

Qazi Anwar Hussain and Sheikh Abdul Hakim

The HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Mohammad Ali came up with the order and rule after virtually hearing a writ petition filed by Kazi Anwar Hossain, owner of Sheba Prokashoni, challenging the copyright office order.

Petitioner's lawyer Hamidul Mishbah told The Daily Star the copyright office has no jurisdiction to hear and dispose of any allegation of violation of copyrights.

The district judges and the sessions judges concerned have such jurisdiction.

But, the copyright office on June 14 this year granted the copyright of 260 books of "Masud Rana Series" and 50 books of "Kuasha Series" to its ghostwriter Sheikh Abdul Hakim going beyond its jurisdiction, which is illegal, he said.

Lawyer Hamidul said writer Sheikh Abdul Hakim had worked as a writer in Sheba Prokashoni and written books for the organisation for a monthly salary.

After retirement, he submitted an application to the copyright office claiming the copyright of books under both the series, which was also a violation of the law, he said.

Hamidul Mishbah also said Sheba Prokashoni will have copyright of the books following the HC order.

Senior lawyer AM Amin Uddin appeared for the writ petitioner while Debashish Bhattacharyya represented the state during the virtual hearing of the petition today.

Earlier on June 15, 2020 Jafor Raza Chowdhury, registrar of the Bangladesh copyright office said "We have given the copyright to the ghostwriter Sheikh Abdul Hakim because beyond receiving a lump sum for writing the first book, he never received any royalty for any of the reprinting. There were no contracts at any point stating that Hakim would not hold copyright, or that Hakim is being given a one-time payment for writing the books."

In addition to the copyright of 260 Masud Rana books, the office had also given Hakim the copyright of 50 books of the Kuasha series. Before this verdict he held the copyright of one Masud Rana book titled "Jaal" and six books of the Kuasha series.