Coimbatore: In a bizarre case, Saregama issued legal notice through YouTube claiming copyrights for the State anthem `Thamizh Thai Vazhthu’. It all happened on March 24 at workshop on digital journalism conducted on behalf of Digital Journalist Association of India where it was played as a prayer song while the video went live on YouTube.

Within 24 hours a notice was issued by Saregama claiming copyright for the music. According to organisers, the notice also said “we need not remove the music and in lieu, Saregama will flash advertisements in our video”. A protest was registered with YouTube saying `Thamizh Thai Vazhthu’ was the anthem of the Tamil Nadu Government, hence copyright could not be claimed.

DiJAI Association chairman K Srinivasan said, “It is sad that even reputed companies like Saregama Publishing are resorting to this type of cheap tactics to earn money. We do not know how many people might have been threatened by Saregama Publishing in the past like this to their advantage, misleading YouTube.”

Officials from Saregama were not available for comment and subsequently the company also withdrew the copyright claim.