Aga Khan serves Toronto lawyer with writ
The Aga Khan.
By Salim Jiwa
TORONTO – (update 1) The Aga Khan has followed up on his lawsuit for copyright infringement of his writings by serving a writ to Toronto lawyer Alnaz Jiwa.
THE RESPONSE BY JIWA AND TAJDIN – SEE THIS STORY
The Aga Khan, one of the world’s wealthiest philanthropists and spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, is suing for copyright in the Canadian Federal Court over a book produced by Jiwa and Nagib Tajdin. The 1,500-page volume is a compilation of the Aga Khan’s written instructions and advice to his community.
The book states the Aga Khan is the author of the various articles but it is alleged they did not have permission to replicate the works.
Federal Court registry indexes now show a process server personally visited Jiwa and served him with the writ.
According to Federal Court registry, an affidavit of service to Jiwa – a necessary part of proceedings – was filed by one Christian Landeta and “sworn on 15-APR-2010 on behalf of Plaintiff confirming service of DOC 1 upon Defendants: Alnaz Jiwa by personal service on 09-APR-2010 with Exhibits A filed on 16-APR-2010.”
Jiwa and Tajdin have not filed a statement of defence in the case but are required to do so within a limited time or face a default judgment.
Prince Karim Aga Khan is seeking punitive and exemplary damages and an injunction against two of his own followers who have allegedly sold the spiritual leader’s written and oral pronouncements to the Ismaili community world-wide.
The Aga Khan claims in his lawsuit that businessman Tajdin and Jiwa and other unknown parties infringed his copyright by reproducing a book that is a collection of his written pronouncements and his speeches.
The lawsuit claims the reproduction was not authorized and that the Aga Khan personally authored the pronouncements and therefore holds sole copyright in the book entitled “Golden Edition – Kalam-E-Imam-E-Zaman.”
“The infringing material consists of a book entitled “Farmans 1957-2009 – Golden Edition Kalam-E Imam-E-Zaman” (the “Book”). This Book reproduces in substantial part a series of 589 Farmans and 77 Talikas and messages authored by the Aga Khan and delivered in various countries around the world between the years 1957 to 2009. The Book is accompanied by an mp3 audio bookmark preloaded with 14 audio extracts of Farmans read in the Plaintiff’s own voice (the MP3″). Collectively, the Book and MP3, are referred to herein as the “Infringing Materials,” according to the writ filed in Federal Court in Toronto.
The Aga Khan explains that a Farman is an address to his followers while a Talika is a brief written religious instruction to his community.
The Aga Khan’s lawsuit explains that both defendants have engaged in commercial ventures using unauthorized reproduction of material on which he owns the copyright.
The Aga Khan says he is a citizen of the U.K. but lives in France.
Nagib Tajdin is listed as a resident of Montreal and Nairobi, Kenya. Alnaz Jiwa is listed in the suit as a lawyer residing in Scarborough, Ontario.
“Ismailis live in over 25 countries across the world, mainly in South and Central Asia, Africa, Afghanistan, Iran and the Middle East, as well as North America and Western Europe. It is the mandate of the Imam to interpret to his community the faith of Islam as a thinking, spiritual faith that teaches compassion and tolerance and upholds the dignity of man, and also to lead the effort to improve the security and quality of life of his community and the wider societies among which the Ismailis live. The Aga Khan’s communications to his community are conveyed in this privileged context and, hence, he is concerned that their integrity should be safeguarded,” states the lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by Vancouverite.
The Aga Khan states in his claim that the defendants produced and released the alleged infringing materials consisting of a book and MP3s which were recorded without his consent.
The Aga Khan states the defendants are profiting from the sales of the book in four parts with each part being sold for $50 CAD with the MP3 recording being given as a gift to a purchaser.
Bay Street law firm Ogilvy Renault filed the lawsuit on April 6. No response has been filed.
Ogilvy Renault is seeking an accounting of all profits made from the sales as well as punitive and exemplary damages.
Aga Khan lawsuit – PDF document from Federal Court.
Controversial book ad.
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Related articles:
- Lawyer: Aga Khan will prove he authorized copyright lawsuit
- ‘I am the plaintiff’ says Aga Khan of copyright suit
- Aga Khan lays down the law for two defendants
- Top American lawyer vouches for authenticity of Aga Khan’s affidavit
Posted by News Editor
on Apr 23 2010. Filed under Featured.
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Ya-Ali-Madat: I am Nizar Ali K. Shivji! I am not able to comprehend why a total disclosure has to be made about our institutions? Haven’t we given enough information to the concerns? Do we now require each and every Murid of Hazar Imam to sign a petition that he/she understands how our institutions works? This litigation is nothing but like a small bush surviving under the shades of giant trees. It has been dealt with so compassionately because it has happened to the Ismaili Muslim Community.
By profession I am not a lawyer but in my management tenure I have dealt with legal cases which at times made me feel that I should have left the legalities of those matters in hands of company lawyers. The Ismaili Muslims leaders have offered their services on honorary services and by virtue of their positions they have made decisions in consultation with MHI. They are under no constraint of losing their position because MHI has appointed them. Coming to the affidavit, it does not require the historical records. In a large conglomerate, does the chair of the company require the consensus, or any sort or permission when dealing with his opposition? I think the Ismaili Muslims Institutions has been very gracious in the way it has handle this litigation.
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