In a Delhi High Court ruling, professional golfer Gurbaaz Pratap Singh Mann sued Kunwar Raghav Bhandari and others claiming they copied his original fast-paced team golf format called Shot Squad League or The Smash League. Mann had created the game in 2019 with unique rules like team play, player specializations for different shots, limited holes, time limits and special drop zones to make golf quicker and more exciting for players and fans; he registered the detailed rules as a literary work with copyright and ran his first tournament in 2020 where one defendant even took part. He accused the defendants of launching a very similar IGPL Flash Golf or Smash Format event in June 2024 using an information sheet that copied his game mechanics, rules and even the name, and also raised claims of trademark infringement, passing off and breach of confidence after some defendants had earlier discussed collaboration with him. After both sides presented detailed arguments on whether game rules and formats can be protected by copyright, the court examined side-by-side comparisons of the two formats and found no substantial copying of Mann’s original expression since many elements were common variations already seen in golf and the defendants’ version differed in key details. The judge held that the plaintiff failed to show a strong prima facie case of infringement, there was no proven breach of confidentiality as the format had been publicly demonstrated, and the balance of convenience favoured the defendants continuing their event without causing irreparable harm to Mann during the suit. The interim injunction application was dismissed, though the defendants’ earlier undertaking not to use the word “Smash” and to stick with “Flash” remains in place.
GURBAAZ PRATAP SINGH MANN v. KUNWAR RAGHAV BHANDARI AND ORS., 10.04.2026, CS(COMM) 700/2024, Neutral Citation not provided, High Court of Delhi, Justice Tejas Karia.
Disclaimer: Donot treat this as substitute for legal advise as it may contain subjective errors.
Written By: Advocate Ajay Amitabh Suman, IP Adjutor [Patent and Trademark Attorney], High Court of Delhi
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