The High Court today upheld the order of Bangladesh Copyright Office that granted copyright of 260 books of the popular spy thriller "Masud Rana Series" and 50 books of "Kuasha Series" to ghostwriter Sheikh Abdul Hakim.
The court rejected a writ petition filed by Kazi Anwar Hossain, owner of Seba Prokashoni, challenging the copyright office order.
The HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Iqbal Kabir Lytton delivered the verdict after holding hearing on the petition.
The copyright office on June 14 last year granted the copyright of 260 books of "Masud Rana Series" and 50 books of "Kuasha Series" to their ghostwriter Sheikh Abdul Hakim.
Petitioner's lawyer Hamidul Mishbah said Sheikh Abdul Hakim had worked as a writer for Seba Prokashoni and wrote books for the organisation while receiving 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.
Earlier on June 15, 2020, Jafor Raza Chowdhury, registrar of Bangladesh Copyright office said, "We have conferred 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.
