Karnataka High Court Notifies Guidelines For Live Streaming Of Court Proceedings, Restricts Usage Of Recordings

The Karnataka High Court on Friday posted a note before live streaming of court proceedings would begin, informing the general public about the Karnataka Rules on Live Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings, which prohibits/restricts usage of court proceedings recordings or live stream.

The note was issued after videos of court proceedings went viral on social media, where the judges are reported to have made objectionable comments while hearing cases.

The note referred to Rule 10 (2), which provides that no person or entity (including print and electronic media, and social media platforms) other than an authorised person or entity shall record, share and/or disseminate Live-streamed Proceedings or Archival Data. This provision shall also apply to all messaging applications. Any person/entity acting contrary to this provision will be prosecuted as per law.

Further, the Court shall have exclusive copyright to the Recordings and Archival Data. Any unauthorised usage of the Live stream will be punishable as an offence under the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, Information Technology Act, 2000, and other provisions of law, including the law of Contempt.

It stated that any party/ litigant-in-person accessing the live stream will be bound by these rules. The Live-stream shall not, without the prior written authorisation of the Court, be reproduced, transmitted, uploaded, posted, modified, published, or re-published in any form.

The note further states that the use of authorised recordings in their original form may be permitted by the Court, inter-alia to disseminate news and for training, academic and educational purposes. Authorised recordings handed over for the aforesaid purposes shall not be further edited or processed.

Such recordings will not be used for commercial, promotional purposes or advertising in any form. No person shall use a Recording Device for recording or for transcribing the proceedings, other than those authorised by the Court.

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