The Superior Court of Delhi grants relief to the Indian group today against the dissemination of its electronic magazines by illegal telegram channels

Justice Amit Bansal Observed as the owners and holders of original literary and artistic work (magazines), India Today Group has the right to protection against unauthorized dissemination.

Living Middle India Limited (claimant no. 1), owner of the publications ‘India today’, ‘Business today’ and ‘Auto Today’ and TV Today Network Limited (claimant no. 2), a part of the group of India Today sought a permanent order against the plaintiffs to violate their brands and copyright.

The India Today Group declared that several channels and accounts that are executed on Telegram are dedicated to infringing their copyright and registered brand illegally loading electronic magazines or are misrepresented as their official channels to provide free copies of magazines. He also declared that Telegram facilitates this infraction by allowing third -party users to create ‘Bots’ on their platform.

He declared that the Indian group of companies today has generalized commercial interests in print and electronic media and is dedicated to various commercial activities, including the printing and publication of magazines, magazines and periodic publications. He declared that they have several records of registered trademarks, including India Today, Business Today and Aaj Tak.

India Today Group said he has exclusive rights over several magazines, including India today English, India Today Hindi, Business Today and Reader’s Digest India. He declared that magazines are available for the public in subscription -based models and that subscriptions for magazines constitute an important source of income. It was stated that a lot of money was spent to promote the magazine and news channels of the group.

India Today Group argued that the actions of the defendants have caused a loss of payments/subscribers readers, which leads to a financial loss. He declared that the illegal actions of the defendants continue to dilute their property rights.

After a citation was issued in the lawsuit, Telegram presented a written statement that indicates that it had eliminated the offender channels and that it would take measures to eliminate any other offending channel. The court took note of the telegram statement and said he will be bound by the statement.

The Court indicated that the defendants/channels infringing did not present any written statement and, therefore, proceeded with a summary trial under order 8 rule 10 CPC.

The Court declared that the Indian group today established its rights over the copyright of registered magazines and brands. He pointed out that the defendants adopted the challenged trademarks as the visualization images of their channel in an attempt to misrepresent their channels as connected to India today.

Therefore, the Court argued that a copyright and violation of registered trademarks were made. Permanently demanded those accused of disseminating and violating the copyright of the plaintiffs of the magazines and the registered trademarks.

CASE TITLE: LIVING MEDIA LIMITED & ANR. vs. Telegram FZ LLC & ORS (CS (COMM) 120/2022)