Dispute over Mario Miranda’s Artwork

The renowned and cherished artist, Mario Miranda, whose work has brought moments of joy and laughter to the hearts of many Indians for decades, is now entangled in a legal issue causing concern for some individuals. The esteemed Mario Miranda art gallery in Lotulim, Margao, is curated and overseen by Architect Gerald da Cunha, holding the ownership rights to Mario’s artistic creations.

However, recently, the gallery has found itself in a position to take legal action against the event company, Sean AdEvent. The gallery claims that the event company has used Mario Miranda’s works without obtaining proper permission for the G20 Summit The excitement surrounding the G20 event has been marred by a defamation notice sent by a private agency, Sean AdEvent, to the art gallery of renowned painter Mario Miranda.

The controversy stems from accusations made by Mario Miranda’s art gallery, alleging that Sean AdEvent used the artist’s artwork without proper permission for the promotion of G20 events in Goa. As a result, the agency has demanded a staggering ₹25 crore in damages for purported reputational harm.

The situation escalated when the art gallery, seeking to protect its rights, sent a notice to Sean AdEvent and the Chief Secretary of Goa, asserting that both the agency and the state government should have sought prior permission before using Mario Miranda’s work.

Gerard da Cunha, the curator of Mario Gallery, revealed that they received the defamation notice on July 10. He also clarified that while they have no qualms about the Goa government using the artwork for G20 events, the need for prior permission remains paramount, as is the case with various other institutions like the Indian Navy, the Airport Authority, and the Income Tax Department.

To add to the legal woes of Sean AdEvent, the Mario Gallery had previously served a notice threatening to initiate legal proceedings against the event management agency. The notice pertained to the installation of Mario Miranda’s famous caricature drawings as life-sized figurines in prominent locations such as Old Goa, Goa University, and NIO circle for the G20 summit.

The impending G20 Leaders summit, once seen as an opportunity for India to showcase its global prominence, now finds itself grappling with a complex legal issue that demands resolution before the grand event can take center stage.