Telegram Informs Madras High Court That It Will Remove And Block Accounts Impersonating PhonePe

The submissions were made before Justice K Kumaresh Babu. The court was hearing a plea by PhonePe seeking an injunction against Telegram.

Phone Pe had approached the court seeking damages of 10 Lakh and an injunction restraining Telegram and its agents from infringing PhonePe's registered trademark by developing, distributing, hosting or enabling the hosting, marketing, selling, offering for sale, advertising or dealing in any APK, mobile app or products. It was alleged that Telegram had been hosting channels that were impersonating the digital payment app and facilitating scamming in the name of PhonePe.

PhonePe had also sought for a mandatory injunction directing Telegram to block, disable, or remove any channels, accounts and contents which are impersonating PhonePe and which were promoting any apps bearing marks that was similar to PhonePe. They also sought for an injunction restraining any collection of money, soliciting payments, or receiving any financial benefits using phonepe's marks.

When the matter was being heard, Advocate Thriyambak J Kannan, appearing for Telegram informed the court that it was difficult to block the posting of alleged infringing content at the initial stage but assured the court that as and when such postings are made and it is brought to the notice of Telegram, it would be blocked immediately.

PhonePe also informed the court that when any infringing content comes to its notice, it would immediately inform Telegram through e-mail. Telegram assured that when such email is received, the postings will be immediately removed and blocked.

The court took note of these submissions and directed Telegram to act on PhonePe's complaints. It also directed Phone Pe to provide detauls of the IP address and the URL of the channels which were posting infringing content thus enabling its blocking.

The court then adjourned the case by two weeks.

Case Title: PhonePe Private Limited v Telegram FZ LLC