Aaj Tak Logo gets protection from infringement by the Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court recently passed an ex parte interim injunction order protecting news channel Aaj Tak’s logo from trademark infringement by digital news channel ‘Charcha Aaj Ki’ [Living Media India Limited and Anr Vs Charcha Aaj Ki].
Justice Jyoti Singh temporarily restrained ‘Charcha Aaj Ki’ from using Aaj Tak trademarked logo’s distinctive red-white-black colour combination and outline borders on its social media handles, website or any other platform.
The Court clarified that the defendant news channel is allowed to retain the name of the show ‘Charcha Aaj Ki’.
The Court passed the order after Aaj Tak’s parent company, Living Media, approached the High Court stating that the mark Aaj Tak was first used in 1995 and that it is included in the list of well-known trademarks published by the Trade Marks Registry.
It stated that in 2025, the company came to know that a digital news channel ‘Charcha Aaj Ki’ was offering news services on JIO TV platform, using a deceptively similar logo on its social media handles and official website.
After considering the case, the High Court found a prima facie case in favour of Aaj Tak and passed the injunction order.
| Plaintiff’s Marks | Defendant’s Impugned Mark |
The Order can be accessed here.
Ilaiyaraaja image-use ban: Popular television challenges the appeal, Broadcaster seeks relief from restraint order
Veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja has been engaged in a long-running legal fight over the unauthorized use of his name, photograph, voice, and title “Isaignani” across social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X, including in memes and reels without his permission.
He approached the Madras High Court seeking protection and removal of such content, claiming it was exploited commercially and sometimes contained offensive implications.
The court earlier passed an interim restraint order limiting unauthorized use of his identity online.
Sun Television Network has now challenged that order, arguing it’s too broad and hampers normal broadcasting of films or songs featuring Ilaiyaraaja’s work, and is seeking relief from the court.
Madras High Court secures personality rights of Kamal Hasan
The Madras High Court granted an interim John Doe order in favour of actor and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan, restraining unknown persons and entities from commercially exploiting his name, image and other identifiable attributes without his consent.
Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy passed the order after being shown material indicating that morphed images and unauthorised merchandise bearing Haasan’s likeness were being circulated online. The court recorded that a strong prima facie case had been made out and directed that respondents be restrained from creating or disseminating false or altered images of the actor through any medium until the next hearing.
It also barred the sale of merchandise carrying his name or image without his consent or endorsement. At the same time, the court clarified that the order would not interfere with permissible forms of creative expression, including satire, caricature and similar works. Since a John Doe defendant had been arraigned in the suit, the court directed Haasan to issue a public notice of the order in both English and Tamil newspapers.
During the hearing, the court orally observed that freedom of expression, including satire and caricature, must be protected. In his pleadings, Haasan stated that his name, voice, signature, image and other distinctive features formed part of his personality and publicity rights and were protected under articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution, sections 38, 38A and 38B of the Copyright Act, 1957, and common law principles.
Eros approaches Bombay High Court against Aanand L Rai for projecting Tere Ishk Mein as a spiritual sequel to Raanjhana
Eros International Media Ltd has filed a suit in the Bombay High Court alleging that filmmaker Aanand L Rai and his company Colour Yellow Media Entertainment LLP unlawfully capitalised on the success of its 2013 film Raanjhana to promote and release the 2025 movie Tere Ishk Mein.
In its commercial IP suit and associated interim plea, Eros claims that the newer film was intentionally marketed as a “spiritual sequel” to Raanjhana without authorisation, amounting to trademark infringement, copyright violation and passing off.
Eros is demanding ₹84 crores as compensation for the damages. Eros has also impleaded Super Cassettes India (T-Series), Himanshu Sharma (writer) and Netflix Entertainment Services India LLP.
A major trigger for the lawsuit was the teaser of Tere Ishk Mein that appeared online in July 2025. Eros says it found that the teaser used phrases like “From the world of Raanjhanaa” and hashtags such as “#WorldOfRaanjhanaa”.
The interim application notes: “The Defendants have made unauthorized use of the Applicant’s Rights / Applicant’s Film/brand/mark ‘Raanjhanaa’ for the promotion of the Impugned Film titled ‘Tere Ishk Mein’.” It further states that the teaser even used footage, background score, and music from Raanjhanaa, despite Eros not owning the music rights anymore.
One of the strongest allegations is about the use of the same actor, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, playing a very similar character in both films. The complaint says: “Murari, portrayed by Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub, in both films, is a sharp-witted friend whose perspective adds conscience to the plot. The Respondents’ unauthorized reproduction and commercial exploitation of these characters constitute a clear violation of the Applicant’s exclusive rights.” Eros also claims that the lead character played by Dhanush in Tere Ishk Mein named Shankar mirrors Raanjhanaa’s Kundan Shankar, along with similar emotional arcs, dialogues and themes.
Hussain Ustara’s daughter serves a Rs 2 crore notice on O’ Romeo makers
Weeks before its release, Shahid Kapoor starrer O’ Romeo has been hit with a legal demand by Sanober Shaikh, daughter of notorious gangster Hussain Ustara.
The upcoming Bollywood action thriller directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and starring Shahid Kapoor, has been hit with a legal demand just weeks before its scheduled release. Sanober Shaikh, the daughter of notorious gangster Hussain Ustara, has reportedly sent a notice to the film’s makers, seeking Rs 2 crore in compensation and asking that the release be postponed until her concerns are addressed.
According to multiple reports, the letter was addressed to producer Sajid Nadiadwala of Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment and director Vishal Bhardwaj last week.
It claims that O’Romeo probably shows Hussain Ustara in a bad light, thereby impacting the family’s reputation. Hence, she has asked for ₹2 crores for the same. Along with the monetary demand, Sanober has also reportedly requested the makers to halt or cancel the film’s release until her concerns are addressed to her satisfaction.
The O’Romeo team has not publicly responded to the demand notice, and it remains unclear whether they will comply, contest it, or seek legal recourse.The movie features Shahid Kapoor in the role of a gunman. The producers and cast have not clarified whether O Romeo is actually inspired by the life and demise of Hussain Ustara. Hussain was a gangster from Mumbai who notoriously had conflicts with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
Delhi High Court orders removal of unauthorized images of Bhuvan Bam, refuses personality rights
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday passed a john doe order directing take down or removal of images of YouTuber and actor Bhuvan Bam being used by various entities and individuals without his consent.
Justice Jyoti Singh however said that a prima facie finding cannot be given on personality rights on the first day.
The Court issued summons in Bam’s suit seeking protection of his personality rights. It also issued notice on his application for interim relief.
The judge said that local commissioners will also be appointed in the matter. Detailed directions will be clear once the order is uploaded. The matter will now be heard on February 04.
Earlier, coordinate benches have passed orders protecting personality rights of Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Pawan Kalyan, former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, and actors R Madhavan and NTR Junior. Similar suit has been filed by actor Salman Khan.
The coordinate benches have passed orders protecting the personality rights of “The Art of Living” foundation founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Telugu actor Nagarjuna, Bollywood actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and film producer Karan Johar.
Notably, the Court also recently protected the personality rights of journalist Sudhir Chaudhary, who had sought relief regarding the circulation of allegedly misleading and AI-generated videos against him on social media.
The Court also passed a john doe order protecting the personality rights of podcaster Raj Shamani, observing that he is a known face in India, especially in the field of content creation.
Supreme Court tells Jana Nayagan’s producer to return to Madras HC for order on CBFC clearance
The release of Vijay-starrer “Jana Nayagan” has been pushed further with the Supreme Court on Thursday dismissing the producer’s plea for a censor certificate and asking them to go back to the Madras High Court for relief on January 20.
KVN Productions LLP had challenged an interim order of the Madras High Court that stayed a single-judge direction to grant censor board clearance to the Tamil movie, which was slated for a Pongal release on January 9 and is billed to be Vijay’s last before his fullfledged entry into politics.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih questioned the pace at which the case was dealt with in the Madras High Court and asked the film producers to approach the division bench for relief on January 20.
It said the Madras High Court must decide the plea on January 20 itself. Producers submitted that it is a long-settled industry practice to announce the release date before Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) clearance, and over 5,000 theatres were booked for the screening of the movie. Justice Datta questioned the haste with which the single bench disposed of the matter within one day.
Justice Datta also said that the CBFC chairperson’s order dated January 6, referring the matter to the review committee, was not challenged before the single judge.
Justice Datta said the writ petition should have been amended to challenge the January 6 order and pointed out that the precedent cited by the single bench was not applicable to the present case, as it is related to a service matter.
On January 9, the Madras High Court stayed a single judge’s order directing the CBFC to immediately grant a censor certificate to “Jana Nayagan”, leaving the fate of actor-turned-politician Vijay’s film, which has drawn attention for its political overtones, in limbo. KVN Productions LLP filed an appeal in the SC against the order passed by a division bench of the high court last Friday, which put on hold the single bench’s directive to the board to issue the film’s certificate forthwith.
On January 9, the high court division bench, hearing an appeal filed by the CBFC, granted an interim stay against the single judge’s verdict. This came hours after Justice PT Asha directed the CBFC to give clearance to “Jana Nayagan”, setting aside the film board’s directive to refer the matter to a review committee.
The single-judge bench had said that once the board had decided to grant the certificate, the chairperson had no power to send the matter to the review committee. The film board immediately preferred an appeal against the order.
