Delhi High Court Directs Meta, Telegram To Suspend Groups And Channels Illegally Circulating Content Of Jawan Film

The Delhi High Court has directed Meta and Telegram to suspend or deactivate the groups and channels illegally circulated content of latest film Jawan starring Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan.

Justice C Hari Shankar also directed the two platforms to provide the basic subscriber information and other details relating to the administrators of the groups or channels.

“The owners/controllers of the websites identified in Schedule “D” are directed forthwith to desist from unauthorised copying, transmission, communication or making available any content in which the plaintiff holds copyright including content relating to the cinematographic film “Jawan” or any part thereof,” the court said.

The court passed the order in the suit filed by Red Chillies Entertainments Private Limited against various rogue websites and other social media platforms seeking to restrain them from committing any infringement in relation to its copyright in the film.

A fresh application was moved by Red Chillies Entertainments against one Rohit Sharma alleging that he was circulating, without authorisation, copyrighted content relating to the film.

The court restrained Sharma from copying, recording, reproducing or transmitting any stills, audio/video clips, songs or recordings of the movie without proper license from Red Chillies Entertainments.

“Mr. Rohit Sharma is additionally directed to take down from all his social media accounts including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and Telegram or any other website accessed or operated by him, any content which infringes the copyright of the plaintiff including content relating to the film “Jawan”,” the court said.

Furthermore, Justice Shankar also directed Meta to forthwith suspend Sharma’s WhatsApp account and block access to any content on his Facebook page titled “Rohit movies” as well as the Instagram handle.

The matter will now be heard on October 19.

About the Suit

It was the case of the entertainment company that the defendants were indulging in broadcasting certain clips and stills from the film which are available on the internet even though no licence to broadcast or transmit them has, till date, been granted to them.

Issuing summons in the suit, Justice Shankar had directed Twitter, YouTube, Google and Reddit to immediately block and take down all the infringing contents and the clips referred to by Red Chillies Entertainment in the plaint.

It added that the entertainment company would be at liberty to immediately inform the internet service providers in case similar content is uploaded on the internet who would then promptly take down or block access to the same.

Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao and Advocate Nizam Pasha along with DSK Legal Partners Chandrima Mitra and Parag Khandhar appeared for the plaintiff. They were also assisted by Advocate Krishan Kumar.

Advocates Aadhar Nautiyal and Deepak Gogia appeared for defendant no. 2. Advocates Saransh Jain and Sneha Dey appeared for defendant no. 5. Advocates Anushka Sharda and Madhav Khosla appeared for Telegram.

Title: RED CHILLIES ENTERTAINMENTS PVT LTD v. ASHOK KUMAR/JOHN DOE & ORS

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Del) 862

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