Parivadini, a music channel that uploads performances of Carnatic classical music, including renditions of compositions of the legendary Thyagaraja (1767-1847)—composer of over 24,000 songs of which about 700 are extant—is the most recent victim. It had, after taking permission of the organisers and performers, uploaded live webcasts of concerts of Carnatic music where Thyagaraja’s compositions were being sung. Last month, Parivadini got a notice of copyright infringement from YouTube for a recording it uploaded, as a music label claimed the Thyagaraja composition (and not that particular recording—they claim, ludicrously, ownership to the original composition itself) as their property. When contacted, YouTube responded that when Parivadini submitted a counter notification, the matter was probed and the video reinstated. “But it is not just a one-off incident,” says Lalitharam Ramachandran, co-founder, Parivadini. “It’s a constant fight between YouTube music channels like ours and music companies. And this case-to-case-based solution by YouTube is not a permanent one. For the channels it becomes a nuisance.” Adds Carnatic vocalist Sangeetha Sivakumar, “It is sad that music labels make such claims. It shows their insensitivity and lack of understanding of our art form.”