The Bombay High Court issued an order on December 9, 2013 asking VH1 Supersonic festival organisers LIVE Viacom 18 to submit a fresh application for permissions to the Goa State Level Permission Committee (SLPC) within four days.
This decision came after Percept filed a police complaint with the Mumbai High Court against LIVE Viacom 18 regarding “Copyright Infringement over the presentation style” of the LIVE Viacom18 event and theft of "confidential trade secrets".
Percept incepted Sunburn in 2007 and has been organising Asia’s biggest electronic music festival consecutively for the past seven years at Candolim, Goa. Earlier this year Viacom18 locked horns with Sunburn over the date, venue and template of their festivals. While Sunburn was issued permissions for the same by the Goa government, VH1 Supersonic will have to apply for all permissions again.
After hearing both sides of the story, the High Court passed a judgement in favour of Percept, stating that LIVE Viacom18 must “file a fresh application for holding the Supersonic Event during 26th December to 30th December, 2013 at Candolim Beach, Goa without using the literary and artistic work contained in the presentation“, thus affirming the claim of the former.
Meanwhile Sunburn Goa has adopted 500,000 sq. metres of land in Vagator and is charging ahead with its plans to present an event that is almost 10 times bigger than 2012. 7 massive stages, each with its own creative concept and technological innovations are being set up at the venue in tandem with Darkroom from UK – one of the best production design teams in the world. A super-mega-stage, set in the shape of an amphitheatre will be a new feature this year. 3 very special stages – Jacked! presented by Afrojack; Toolroom Knights by Mark Knight; and Pete Tong presents his All Gone stage are the highlights in 2013.
The impressive artist line up will feature over 120 artists including the Global Top 10 DJs - Axwell, Afrojack, Markus Schulz and Pete Tong. Other artists include Mark Knight, Andrew Rayel, Quintino, James Zabiela, Ummet Ozcan, flanked by the best Indian talent like Dualist Inquiry, (S)haan, Lost Stories, Anish Sood, Kohra, Jayant, and Nucleya. Visitors will be spoilt for choice with music options of Trance, House, Electro, Techno, Drum & Bass, Psy-trance and Experimental.
Other new features announced for Sunburn 2013 include On-Site Camping, an Artist Village where visitors can meet their favourite DJs, Sunburn Cruises on the adjoining Arabian Sea, Hot Air Balloon Rides, Kite Festivals, Ferris Wheels, Super Football matches, Paracopter rides, Book Libraries, Circus Tents and an Open Air Movie Theatre.