WHO OWNS GUTTHI

Viacom 18, the producer of the program, ‘Comedy Nights with Kapil’ was forced to issue a public notice in a leading daily declaring that the character, ‘Guthi’ is owned by them and nobody has the right to adapt the same as a part of any other programme. Obviously, this was in reaction to Sunil Grover – who plays the character, ‘Guthi’ in the show – quitting the show and trying to create his own show with Guthi. Who owns a character anyways? Do we have concrete legislative provisions or case laws in specific relation to this aspect? Who according to you should own the copyright in a character – The Producer or the Performer or the Creator??’