IPRMENTLAW WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS (FEB 19-25, 2024)

Special CBI Court rejects CBI plea seeking stay on release of documentary on Indrani Mukherjea

A special CBI court rejected a CBI plea seeking a stay on the airing of a documentary titled ‘The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth’. The trial against former media executive Indrani Mukerjea and two others for the alleged murder of her daughter, Sheena Bora, in 2012, is still ongoing. A special court rejected a CBI plea seeking a stay on the airing of a documentary titled ‘The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth’ on Feb 20. The trial against former media executive Indrani Mukerjea and two others for the alleged murder of her daughter, Sheena Bora, in 2012, is still ongoing. The court stated that it did not have the authority to halt the series’ broadcasting and that the CBI may use the proper legal measures if informed.

Bombay High Court tells Netflix to arrange screening for CBI after agency seeks stay on release

The Bombay High Court has directed Netflix to provide a pre-release screening for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of the documentary series “The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth.” Netflix also informed the Court that it would not air the series until February 29, when the petition for a stay on the documentary’s release would be heard again.

Delhi High Court restrains software firm from using JAVA trade mark after oracle America files for infringement

The Delhi High Court has prohibited a software company from using the ‘JAVA’ brand in their domain name or for the services they offer, after US-based tech giant Oracle filed an action for trademark infringement. The High Court rejected the contention that JAVA is the name of a computer language and hence unsuitable for trademark protection.

Delhi High Court pulls up music company for issuing notices against monetisation of songs by Bhojpuri singer Khesari Lal Yadav

The Delhi High Court recently criticised Global Music Junction Private Limited for sending notifications to numerous entities, including social media platforms, requesting that they stop monetising the music of Bhojpuri singer and actor Khesari Lal Yadav (alias Shatrughan Kumar). According to Justice Sanjeev Narula, the notices asking the businesses to comply with an ex-parte ruling of the High Court were a distortion of the Court’s directives.

The controversy arose from a lawsuit filed by the music firm against Yadav for allegedly violating an agreement to not cooperate with any third parties until September 30, 2025.

Read order here.

Delhi High Court restrains Geetanjali salon from playing PPL’s songs without authorisation

The Delhi High Court has banned salon chain Geetanjali Salon from playing music for which Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) possesses the copyright without acquiring a license. Phonographic Performance Limited had filed a copyright infringement lawsuit, alleging that Geetanjali salon was playing its copyrighted songs without permission.

Read order here.

NCPCR highlights lack of KYC norms for gambling apps

The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, underlining the lack of KYC standards for gambling apps and websites, which it believes has resulted in the illegal participation of children on these platforms. In a letter, the NCPCR stated that a complaint from the New Delhi-based organization ‘Society against Gambling’ talked of the “presence of numerous illegal online gambling websites and applications operating within the country, posing a significant threat to the future well-being of children”.