Sampadak Express | August 17, 2024
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has issued an ex parte ad-interim injunction order, effectively barring the unauthorized use of content from the popular TV show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. The order, passed by Justice Mini Pushkarna on August 14, 2024, specifically targets platforms involved in the illegal sale of the show’s merchandise, the creation of AI-generated images, deepfakes, animated videos, and the unauthorized reproduction of its characters and other intellectual property.
Court’s Directive Against Infringement
According to a report by Barandbench.com, the Delhi High Court’s order restrains a range of YouTube channels, websites, and social media handles from infringing or copying any trademark, title, character, or intellectual property related to the show. The injunction covers both known and unknown entities, referred to as John Doe defendants, and prohibits them from hosting, streaming, broadcasting, transmitting, or making available any content that infringes on the show’s copyrighted material or registered trademarks.
The court’s decision was prompted by a lawsuit filed by Neela Film Productions Private Limited, the producer of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. The producer argued that the company holds exclusive rights to the show’s title, format, characters, characterizations, dialogues, voice, mannerisms, and all related intellectual property. They further alleged that multiple entities have been exploiting these assets for commercial gains, including the sale of merchandise and the publication of “sexually explicit and vulgar” videos on platforms like YouTube.
Legal Protection for Long-Running Sitcom
With Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah having been on air for over 16 years and boasting approximately 4,000 episodes, the show’s producers stressed the significance of protecting their intellectual property from misuse. They contended that unauthorized use could lead to irreparable harm to their brand and sought immediate legal intervention to prevent further infringement.
Justice Mini Pushkarna, in her ruling, emphasized the potential for irreparable loss to the plaintiff if the injunction was not granted. The court’s order covers a wide range of activities, including the hosting, streaming, and sale of any content or goods that amount to an infringement of the show’s copyrights and trademarks.
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