Phantom Studios sues JioStar over alleged unauthorized "Queen" sequel

Phantom Studios has initiated a lawsuit amounting to 2.5 billion rupees against JioStar India at the Bombay High Court. The studio alleges that JioStar's upcoming film, "Queen Forever," is an unauthorized sequel to the 2014 hit "Queen," violating their co-production agreement.

The core of the dispute lies in intellectual property and derivative rights for "Queen." Phantom claims these rights are jointly owned with JioStar (formerly Viacom18) under a 2012 agreement, reaffirmed in 2022. According to Phantom, any sequel, prequel, or spin-off requires mutual consent, and neither party can exploit the franchise independently.

Phantom alleges JioStar proceeded with "Queen Forever," in collaboration with Trigger Happy Entertainment, without notifying or involving Phantom Studios. The suit cites the return of the original film's director and lead actor, along with the title "Queen Forever," as evidence of franchise exploitation.

The lawsuit seeks injunctions to halt the production and release of "Queen Forever" and demands disclosure of related agreements and materials, asserting Phantom's claim to 50% of any derivative work revenues.

This case highlights a growing trend in India's media sector where consolidation efforts by companies like JioStar lead to increased legal challenges over legacy co-production agreements. As studios increasingly rely on established intellectual property for sequels, disputes over ownership and revenue sharing from earlier productions are becoming more commercially significant.