Plea To Safeguard Copyright Of Live-Stream Videos In YouTube : Supreme Court Allows Petitioner To Give Suggestions

The Supreme Court on Monday disposed off an application filed by former RSS ideologue KN Govindacharya seeking a mechanism to preserve the copyright of the live-stream videos of hearings streamed through YouTube. A bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice JB Pardiwala disposed of the application giving liberty to the petitioner to give his suggestions to the Secretary General of the Supreme Court.

The petitioner argued that allowing private platforms to make commercial gains out of the live-stream videos of Court impacted the dignity of the judiciary.

"Two aspects are to be balanced. One is dignity of this Hon'ble court. Second, commercial gains in compromised copyrights of live streaming is against the judgement of this court."

However, CJI DY Chandrachud stated that work concerning independent live streaming of courts was already underway.  "We have already started taking action. Work is already under way", CJI said.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said  that she will apprise the petitioner of the actions taken by the registry in this regard.

During an earlier hearing, CJI had told the petitioner that live-streaming through YouTube was only a temporary arrangement and that the efforts are being made to develop an independent platform to host live-stream videos. 

In response to the petition, Registrar of SC's Computer Cell HS Jaggi said in an affidavit :

 Case Title: KN Govindacharya v. Secretary General And Ors. WP(C) No. 1016/2019 PIL

Click Here To Read/Download Order