Case Title: Vinay Pictures Vs Good Hope Case Number: CS(COMM) 475/2025 Order Date: 14th May 2025 Court: Delhi High Court, Commercial Division Judge: Hon'ble Mr. Justice Amit Bansal
Facts:
Vinay Pictures, owner of the copyrighted film "Andaz Apna Apna," filed a suit against multiple defendants for infringing its intellectual property rights. The defendants allegedly uploaded, streamed, and distributed content related to the film online, including merchandise featuring film characters, dialogues, and scenes, in violation of the plaintiff's rights. They are also accused of using AI-generated content and virtual stickers to exploit the film’s IP commercially, thereby causing irreparable harm and economic loss.
Legal Issue:
Whether the defendants’ actions constitute infringement of the plaintiff’s copyright, trademarks, and related rights, and whether interim relief in the form of an injunction should be granted to prevent ongoing and future infringement?
Reasoning:
The Court observed that the plaintiff demonstrated a prima facie case of rights violation, with clear evidence of unauthorized online activities that cause irreparable harm. Given the widespread nature of the infringement and the potential for dilution and tarnishment of the film’s IP, the Court found that urgent interim relief was justified. The Court noted the difficulty in controlling such infringements across diverse platforms and technologies, especially with AI involvement.
Order & Issues:
The Court granted ex parte ad interim injunctions restraining the defendants, including their agents and affiliates, from hosting, streaming, creating derivative content, or selling merchandise based on the film.
