Government Shuts Down 18 OTT Platforms For Hosting Obscene And Vulgar Content: All Details
The Indian government has blocked 18 OTT platforms for hosting obscene, vulgar, or pornographic material. The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, L. Murugan, mentioned this move in the Lok Sabha on 18 December. He explained that the platforms were blocked on March 14, 2024, according to rules framed under IT Rules, 2021, which mandate that intermediaries ought to put into place sufficient measures to restrict the display or distribution of objectionable content. The Ministry coordinated enforcement measures with various stakeholders to ensure adherence to the rules safeguarding online content standards.
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Diljit Dosanjh concert exceeded noise limit: Chandigarh admin to Punjab and Haryana High Court
The Chandigarh administration has informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that “strict action” will be taken against violators after a Diljit Dosanjh concert in the city on December 14 exceeded prescribed noise limits. The administration has also referred to the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control Rules) 2000 and provisions of the Environment Protection Act 1986.
Noise levels were monitored at three locations and the background noise level before the concert started was a maximum of 83.5 decibels and a minimum of 60.3 decibels. The noise levels from the three monitored locations were also mentioned in the affidavit at different timings, with one location surrounding the concert venue recording 93.1 decibels at 8.45 pm.
MIB urges OTT platforms to curb glamorization of drug use in content
The Ministry has advised OTT platforms to carefully review content and avoid normalising or promoting drug use, in line with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Platforms must not depict drug use as fashionable, as this could lead to legal consequences. They are also urged to implement content classification, warnings, disclaimers, and public health messages about the dangers of substance abuse. Promoting educational content on drug addiction through documentaries should be part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
The MIB urged OTT platforms to voluntarily adhere to these guidelines for the greater public good.
Delhi High Court protects personality rights of Telugu actor Mohan Babu
Justice Mini Pushkarna, who heard the case, noted that Mohan Babu had made a prima facie case for interim relief. The Court added that irreparable damage may ensue if an order is not passed to restrain others (defendants) from misusing Babu’s personality rights.
The Court has restrained various social media accounts, Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots as well as e-commerce websites from misusing the actor’s name, voice or image.
The case will come up for hearing next in May 2025.
[Manchu Bhaktavatsalam Naidu Alias Mohan Babu Vs Phanmantu & Ors- order here].
Delhi High Court Grants Injunction Against Using India TV Editor Rajat Sharma’s Likeness In Deepfake Videos
The Delhi High Court, on a suit filed by Rajat Sharma, the Editor-in-chief of India TV, has restrained eight people from misusing and exploiting his name and likeness, who he claimed were infringing his personality rights by uploading deepfake videos of him endorsing pharmaceutical drugs.
The Court was hearing a suit seeking permanent injunction restraining infringement of personality and publicity rights of Rajat Sharma claiming that he is a “renowned journalist and has been a household name and face on Indian television for over two decades,” as the High Court notes his submission. He was aggrieved by the alleged misuse and exploitation of his name, likeness and so on.
Granting ex-parte injunction, a Single-Judge Bench of Justice Amit Bansal concluded, “A prima facie case is made out in favour of the Plaintiffs and against the Defendants. Balance of convenience is also in favour of the Plaintiffs and against the Defendant. Irreparable injury would be caused to the Plaintiffs if the Defendants are allowed to continue posting the aforesaid infringing posts/videos.”
Meta Platforms Inc., which owns platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, was ordered to immediately take down, block or remove the impugned content uploaded by the eight defendants.
The Court listed the matter for further hearing on April 3, 2025.
Zee Entertainment reaches out to Sony to revive terminated merger
ZEEL executives have approached Sony’s leadership to revisit the deal, which was terminated earlier this year. This marks ZEEL’s first formal attempt to reinitiate negotiations since the merger collapsed.
Read more here.
Dispute Related To Infringement Of Copyright Is Arbitrable, Arbitrator Can Be Appointed U/S 11 Of Arbitration Act: Orissa High Court
The Orissa High Court bench of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh has held that dispute related to infringement of copyright is arbitrable for which arbitrator can be appointed by the court under section 11 of the Arbitration Act.
Read order here.
Badshah breaks traffic rules to attend Karan Aujla’s concert, Gurugram police issues hefty fine
Driving on the wrong side has proved costly for famous singer and rapper Badshah. Gurugram traffic police have issued a fine of Rs 15,500 to Badshah. On Sunday, Punjabi singer Karan Aujla had a live concert at Area Mall in Sector 68 in Gurugram. Badshah also attended this concert with his convoy of three cars, which also included a Thar. As soon as Badshah’s convoy reached Badshahpur in Gurugram, they flouted the rules and drove on the wrong side from Badshahpur to Area Mall. The pictures of which were also captured in the CCTV camera.
From Popeye to Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue,’ Here’s What’s Entering Public Domain in 2025
Popeye can punch without permission and Tintin can roam freely starting in 2025. The two classic comic characters who first appeared in 1929 are among the intellectual properties becoming public domain in the United States on Jan. 1.
But as with Mickey Mouse last year and Winnie the Pooh in 2022, only the earliest version is free for reuse
Brazilian judge orders Adele song be pulled globally over plagiarism claim
A Brazilian judge has ordered a song by British pop superstar Adele, Million Years Ago, be pulled worldwide – including on streaming services – over a continuing plagiarism claim by a Brazilian composer.
The injunction threatens the Brazilian subsidiaries of Sony and Universal, Adele’s labels, with a fine of $8,000 “per act of non-compliance”.
His preliminary injunction, obtained by AFP, orders Sony and Universal to stop “immediately and globally, from using, reproducing, editing, distributing or commercializing the song Million Years Ago, by any modality, means, physical or digital support, streaming or sharing platform”.
Brazil is a signatory to the 1886 Berne convention that agrees international protection for copyrighted works.
Ralph Lauren wins lawsuit against trademark infringement in China
The court’s rulings recognized Ralph Lauren’s trademarks including “POLO,” “POLO BY RALPH LAUREN” and “POLO RALPH LAUREN” as highly influential within the industry and among Chinese consumers. Based on the facts, the court concluded that the unauthorized use of the marks by the defendants was likely to mislead the public regarding the origin of the goods and falsely suggest an association between the defendants and the registered trademarks of Ralph Lauren, according to the court judgment.
The Chinese companies were ordered to pay a total of 20 million yuan (about $2.8 million) in compensation to Ralph Lauren, far exceeding the statutory compensation limit, making it one of the cases with the highest compensation awarded in Chinese trademark infringement cases.
