DPIIT Releases Working Paper titled: “One Nation One License One Payment – Balancing AI Innovation and Copyright”
The recently released DPIIT Working Paper, titled “One Nation, One License, One Payment: Balancing AI Innovation and Copyright”, addresses the core tension between generative AI development and the use of copyrighted works for AI training, and assesses whether India’s current copyright framework is equipped to deal with these challenges. The paper recommends a hybrid model, adopted by majority view, proposing a mandatory blanket licence in favour of AI developers for the use of all lawfully accessed copyrighted works for AI training, coupled with a statutory right to remuneration for copyright owners. Under this model, rights holders cannot opt out of AI training use, but are assured royalties collected through a centralized, non-profit umbrella entity constituted by rights holders and designated by the Central Government, with Copyright Societies and Collective Management Organisations as members for each class of works. Royalties would be distributed to both members and non-members who register their works, with rates fixed by a government-appointed committee and linked to a percentage of revenue generated from AI systems trained on copyrighted content.
Access the working paper here.
Delhi High Court Directs Platforms to Act on Salman Khan’s Personality Rights Complaint
The Delhi High Court has directed social media intermediaries to act within three days on a complaint filed by actor Salman Khan seeking protection of his personality rights against unauthorised use of his name, image, likeness, and persona. Treating the suit as a complaint under the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Court required intermediaries to take necessary steps on the identified links and to inform the actor in case of any reservations. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora also clarified that a detailed interim restraining order would be passed separately against non-intermediary entities, including those selling merchandise using Khan’s image and likeness without authorisation. In doing so, the Court reiterated the approach adopted in similar matters, including the Ajay Devgn case, emphasising that parties must first approach intermediaries under the IT Rules rather than directly seeking blanket court orders.
Read more about it here.
Delhi High Court Conditions OTT and Satellite Release of Film on Interim Licence Fee for Copyrighted Song
The Delhi High Court has directed the producers of the Tamil film Mask to either remove the Kannada song “Naguva Nayana” or deposit INR 30,00,000 with the Court as interim licence fees prior to the film’s release on OTT, satellite television, or other online platforms. The Court found that Saregama is the lawful owner of the copyright in the song, including its music, lyrics, and sound recording, pursuant to a 1980 copyright assignment from the original producer of Pallavi Anu Pallavi. The Court held that Saregama had established a prima facie case of infringement and was entitled to ad-interim relief, but it also noted that the film had already been released theatrically worldwide and that the plaintiff had expressed no objection to digital and satellite exploitation subject to deposit of licence fees. In these circumstances, the Court held that the balance of convenience did not warrant a complete restraint, and instead granted conditional relief by securing the claimed licence amount pending further adjudication.
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Delhi High Court Seeks Centre’s Response on Accessibility of Television Content for Persons with Disabilities
The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on a petition seeking mandatory accessibility of television content for persons with visual and hearing disabilities. The petition contends that despite the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 mandating accessible electronic media, a majority of television programming in India remains inaccessible to visually impaired and hard-of-hearing audiences.
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Madras High Court Vacates Injunction and Permits Release of ‘Akhanda 2’ Following Settlement
The Madras High Court has vacated an interim injunction restraining the release of the film Akhanda 2 after the parties settled their film distribution dispute and part payment under the arbitral award was made. In proceedings under Section 9(1)(d) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, Eros International had sought to restrain the respondents from creating third-party rights or exploiting the film until satisfaction of an arbitral award arising from multiple agreements, including a Film Distribution Agreement and an Assignment Agreement. While an earlier dismissal of the Section 9 applications was set aside by the Division Bench, which granted interim protection pending final hearing, the matter was remanded to the Single Judge. The Court recorded that the parties had entered into a Settlement Agreement dated 8th December 2025, pursuant to which INR 35 Crore had already been paid via RTGS and a further cheque of INR 10 Crore was handed over in Court. In view of the settlement and receipt of substantial amounts, the Court held that the basis for continuation of the injunction no longer survived, ordered that the Settlement Agreement form part of the final order, disposed of all applications accordingly, and permitted the release of Akhanda 2.
Case Title: Eros International Media Ltd. v. 14 Reels Entertainment (P) Ltd.,
Citation: OA Nos. 997 & 998 of 2025 and Arb. Appin. Nos. 1374 & 1388 of 2025
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Delhi High Court Directs Platforms to Remove Content Misusing Sunil Gavaskar’s Identity
The Delhi High Court has directed Google, Meta, and X to take down online content misusing former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar’s name, photographs, and likeness, following a suit filed to protect his personal and publicity rights from unauthorized exploitation across digital platforms. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora clarified that the takedown obligation would apply only to specifically identified infringing material, directing Gavaskar to furnish the relevant URLs to the intermediaries within 48 hours, after which the platforms are required to act within one week. The Court noted that the complained-of content included fabricated statements attributed to Gavaskar, including purported critical comments on India’s men’s cricket coach and players, as well as the online sale of fake autographed merchandise and photographs falsely linked to him.
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Delhi High Court Directs Platforms to Act on Pawan Kalyan’s Personality Rights Complaint
The Delhi High Court has directed major social media intermediaries to decide within one week on a complaint filed by actor Pawan Kalyan alleging unauthorised misuse of his personality rights, including the use of his name, image and voice through AI-generated and other digital content. The Court reiterated that statutory grievance-redressal mechanisms under intermediary law must be exhausted before substantive judicial intervention, directing Kalyan to furnish specific infringing URLs within two days and permitting intermediaries to raise any reservations directly with him. The Court noted submissions that despite prior communications issued in line with the Ajay Devgn precedent, meaningful action had not been taken and infringing content remained accessible online.
Read more about it here.
Delhi High Court directs social media platforms to act on NTR Jr’s personality rights complaint
Telugu actor Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Junior (NTR Jr) has approached the Delhi High Court alleging that various social media companies and e-commerce platforms are hosting infringing and defamatory material that violates his personality rights. The court, presided over by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, directed the platforms to treat his suit as a complaint under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 and take necessary action within a short timeframe, with a detailed order on the matter to be issued at the next hearing on 22 December.
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Gujarati Filmmaker Secures Copyright for ‘Hexaimmersive’ Film and Performance Format
Emerging from the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ahmedabad-based filmmaker and performer Hhrutul Patel has developed and secured copyright protection for a novel “hexaimmersive” storytelling and viewing format designed to redefine audience engagement. The format features six large screens arranged in a hexagonal structure, with audiences seated in triangular sections and performers moving through dedicated pathways, creating a fully immersive 360-degree visual and performance experience. Conceived as a response to empty cinema halls and live venues, the format aims to deliver interconnected visuals from all sides, blending film, music, and live performance into a single experiential setup. With legal assistance from Advocate Yash Suryawala, Patel recently obtained copyright registration for the hexaimmersive format, positioning it as a proprietary creative framework that cannot be commercially used by others without authorisation.
Read more about it here.
Filmmaker Ronny Sen Sues Zee News for Alleged Copyright Infringement
Emmy-nominated filmmaker and photographer Ronny Sen has filed a suit seeking INR 18,00,00,000 in damages against Zee News and its parent company, Zee Media Corporation, alleging deliberate copyright infringement arising from the unauthorised use of his exclusive cinematographic work documenting the intercontinental translocation of cheetahs from Africa to India. Sen claims that a 12-second clip from footage he shot during an assignment in South Africa in June 2022 was broadcast on Zee News Hindi’s prime-time programme DNA on September 16 and 17, 2022, without his consent or attribution, and was branded as the channel’s own “super exclusive” content. According to the suit, the channel added watermarks, tickers, and on-screen text creating the false impression that Zee News had secured exclusive access to the aircraft transporting the cheetahs, thereby passing off Sen’s work as its own and undermining his ability to commercially license the footage.
Read more about it here.
Delhi High Court Grants Interim Injunction to Himalaya Wellness in Trademark Infringement Dispute
The Delhi High Court has granted an interim injunction in favour of Himalaya Wellness, restraining the defendants from using the mark “HIMALAYA” or any deceptively similar mark, after finding a prima facie case of trademark infringement, passing off, dilution and tarnishment. The Court held that the defendants’ use of the impugned mark was visually, phonetically, structurally and deceptively similar to the plaintiff’s registered marks, amounting to infringement. The Court characterized the matter as one of “triple identity”, noting that the competing marks, product category, trade channels and consumer base were identical, and that an average consumer with imperfect recollection was likely to be confused as to the source or origin of the products.
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Kerala High Court Upholds Quashing of CBFC ‘A’ Certificate and Cuts for Malayalam Film Haal
The Kerala High Court has dismissed appeals filed by the Union Government and the Catholic Congress, thereby affirming a single judge’s decision that set aside the ‘A’ certificate and six mandatory cuts imposed by the Central Board of Film Certification on the Malayalam film Haal. The Court upheld the finding that the CBFC’s decision could not be sustained, granting relief to the filmmakers. The Catholic Congress had argued that the film misrepresented the Bishop of Thamarassery, amounted to propaganda on the issue of interfaith marriages, and was defamatory and hurtful to religious sentiments, with the potential to disturb social harmony, in addition to objecting to the depiction of the Bishop’s House. The Court declined to interfere with the single judge’s ruling, notwithstanding objections that had earlier led the CBFC’s Revising Committee to recommend cuts, including scenes depicting the consumption of beef biriyani and sequences allegedly portraying the police in a negative light, reinforcing judicial scrutiny over censorship and certification decisions.
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DPIIT Withdraws Wedding Music Licence Exemption, Reaffirming Novex’s Copyright Enforcement Rights
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has withdrawn its public notice dated 24 July 2023 that had exempted weddings and related social functions from the requirement of obtaining music licences, citing the pendency of appeals in Novex Communications Pvt. Ltd. v. Union of India before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. With the withdrawal of the exemption, copyright enforcement rights stand reaffirmed, and music played at marriage related events such as sangeet ceremonies, receptions, DJ nights, and cocktail parties requires a valid licence from the relevant copyright holder. Event venues, planners, organisers, and families hosting such functions are therefore required to secure appropriate licences for the public performance of sound recordings, failing which they may be exposed to infringement actions, including injunctions, monetary damages, and potential criminal liability.
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The New York Times Sues Perplexity AI Over Alleged Copyright Infringement
The New York Times has filed a civil suit against AI startup Perplexity, alleging that its search and chatbot product unlawfully scrapes, copies, and republishes millions of the copyrighted articles, videos, and podcasts to power its AI database. The complaint asserts that Perplexity’s technology repackages original journalism for distribution without authorisation, violating copyright and trademark protections, and includes five civil counts such as copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and trademark dilution. It further alleges that Perplexity continued its activities despite cease-and-desist notices and that its system misquotes Times content and generates fabricated outputs, or “hallucinations,” harming the publication’s credibility.
Read more about it here.
