Public Notice Inviting Objections on Registration of AIPA as Performers’ Society
The Copyright Office, Government of India, has issued a public notice dated April 30, 2026, inviting objections and comments from stakeholders on an application filed by the All India Performers Association (AIPA) seeking registration as a Performers’ Society under the Copyright Act. The application proposes to administer and protect performers’ rights across categories such as actors, singers, musicians, and other performing artists, with a mandate extending globally. Stakeholders have been given a 45-day window from the date of publication to submit objections or comments to the Registrar of Copyrights.
Read public notice here
Delhi Court Directs Saregama to Pay ₹5 Lakh to Singer Anamika Over Wrongful Song Takedown
A Delhi Court has directed music giant Saregama India Ltd. to pay ₹5 lakh in damages to singer Anamika for the wrongful removal of her content from YouTube. The court found that Saregama had issued a copyright strike without adequate verification of ownership, leading to professional and reputational harm. The judge emphasized that misuse of copyright enforcement mechanisms by large entities can unfairly stifle independent artists who rely on digital platforms for their livelihood.
Case Title: Ms. Anamika Sood v. Saregama India Ltd.
Citation: CS (COMM) – Delhi District Court (2024/2025)
Read more about it here. Access the order here.
Karnataka High Court Rejects Plea to Cancel CBFC Certificate for ‘Dhurandhar 2’
The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a petition seeking the cancellation of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate for the film ‘Dhurandhar 2’. The petitioner had alleged that the film’s script was a result of plagiarism, however, the Court has ruled that the CBFC’s role is primarily to certify content for public exhibition based on statutory guidelines and not to adjudicate copyright infringement or plagiarism disputes. The Court observed that the petitioner should seek appropriate civil remedies for copyright infringement instead of challenging the certification.
Case Title: Aditya Dhar v. Santosh Kumar RS & Ors.
Read more about it here.
Bombay High Court Restrains Santosh Kumar from Making Defamatory Plagiarism Claims Against Aditya Dhar
Filmmaker Aditya Dhar has secured an interim injunction from the Bombay High Court against Santosh Kumar, who had repeatedly alleged that Dhar plagiarized the script for the film Dhurandhar. The Court observed that Kumar’s public statements were prima facie defamatory and caused irreparable damage to Dhar’s professional reputation. The defendant has been restrained from making further allegations of script theft until the final disposal of the defamation suit.
Read more about it here.
ANI and PTI Settle INR 2 Crore Copyright Infringement Suit in Delhi High Court
The long-standing copyright legal battle between news agencies ANI and PTI has reached an amicable settlement. ANI had filed a INR 2 crore lawsuit alleging that PTI had unauthorizedly used its video footage. The Delhi High Court recorded the Settlement Agreement which was entered into between the parties, leading to the withdrawal of the case.
Case Title: Asian News International (ANI) v. Press Trust of India (PTI)
Read more about it here.
Delhi High Court Closes Lawrence Bishnoi’s Plea Against ‘Lawrence of Punjab’ After Centre’s Advisory
The Delhi High Court has disposed of a petition filed by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi seeking to stay the release of the docuseries Lawrence of Punjab. The court noted that the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had already issued an advisory to the OTT platform Zee5, directing it not to release the content due to potential public order risks. Since the series is currently on hold following the government’s intervention, the court held that the petition had become infructuous but granted Bishnoi liberty to approach the court if the status changed.
Read more about it here.
Delhi High Court Protects Bhuvan Bam’s Personality Rights Against Deepfakes
In a significant move for digital creators, the Delhi High Court passed a john-doe order and has granted an ad-interim injunction in favor of YouTuber Bhuvan Bam to protect his personality and publicity rights. Bam approached the court after deepfake videos and AI-generated content using his voice and likeness were used for unauthorized commercial purposes. The Court ordered the removal of such content from various platforms, stating that celebrities have the right to control the commercial exploitation of their identity.
Read more about it here.
New E-Gaming Regulator Begins Operations with Focus on Esports Registrations
The newly formed self-regulatory body for India’s e-gaming sector has officially commenced operations, prioritizing the registration and verification of esports platforms. The regulator aims to establish a framework that distinguishes between games of skill and games of chance, ensuring compliance with consumer protection and financial transparency norms. This move is expected to bring much-needed clarity and legitimacy to the rapidly growing Indian gaming industry.
Read more about it here.
Madras High Court Directs Separate Bank Account for ‘Dhruva Natchathiram’ Release Proceeds
The Madras High Court has ordered the makers of the delayed film Dhruva Natchathiram to maintain a separate bank account for all revenues generated upon its release. The Court order came after a hearing concerning the outstanding dues payable to creditors and investors in relation to the film. The Court directed that a portion of the theatrical and digital proceeds be deposited into this account to ensure that the claims of the various stakeholders are satisfied in a transparent manner.
Read more about it here.
Madras High Court Refuses Anticipatory Bail in ‘Jana Nayagan’ Movie Leak Case
The Madras High Court has rejected an anticipatory bail plea by individuals accused of leaking a pirated version of the film Jana Nayagan online before its official release. Emphasizing the severity of digital piracy and its impact on the film industry’s economy, the Court stated that custodial interrogation might be necessary to identify the source of the leak and the network involved in the unauthorized distribution.
Read more about it here.
Aman Gupta Moves Delhi High Court to Protect his Personality Rights
Aman Gupta, co-founder of ‘boAt’ and a popular figure on Shark Tank India, has filed a lawsuit in the Delhi High Court seeking protection for his personality rights. The plea aims to restrain third parties from using his name, image, voice, or popular “Shark” catchphrases for commercial endorsements without his consent. This follows a growing trend of Indian entrepreneurs seeking legal safeguards against the unauthorized commercial use of their public personas.
Read more about it here.
Bombay High Court Quashes ‘Rasgulla’ Joke FIR Against Shekhar Suman and Bharti Singh
The Bombay High Court has quashed a hate speech FIR registered against actors Shekhar Suman and Bharti Singh for a joke involving the word “Rasgulla” made during a comedy show in 2010. The Court held that for an offense to be made out under Section 295A of the IPC (outraging religious feelings), there must be “deliberate and malicious intent.” It observed that humor in a comedy program, even if perceived as insensitive by some, does not automatically equate to a criminal attempt to insult a religion.
Case Title: Aman Gupta v. John Doe & Ors.
Read more about it here.
IAMAI Raises Alarm Over TRAI’s Proposed Regulation of OTT Platforms
The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has flagged concerns regarding the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) attempt to regulate Over-The-Top (OTT) communication services like WhatsApp and Telegram. In its submission, IAMAI argued that TRAI’s draft regulations on spam and caller identification constitute “jurisdictional overreach,” as OTT services are governed by the IT Act rather than telecom laws. The industry body warned that forcing OTTs to share proprietary data with telecom providers could violate constitutional protections.
Read more about it here.
Government Online Content Blocking Orders Have Doubled to 24,000
Data as per news reports indicates that the Indian government’s orders to block online content under Section 69A of the IT Act have nearly doubled in the past year, reaching approximately 24,000 requests. Notably, over 50% of these orders were directed at the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The surge is attributed to heightened monitoring of content related to national security, public order, and misinformation. This trend has sparked debates regarding the balance between state regulation and the fundamental right to free speech on digital platforms.
Read more about it here.
Madras High Court Grants Anti-Piracy Injunction to Protect ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do’ Ahead of Release
The Madras High Court granted an ad interim injunction in favour of Super Cassettes Industries (T-Series) to restrain internet service providers and cable operators from any unauthorised broadcast of the unreleased film Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, noting that such leakage could cause “irreparable” or “irreversible” commercial harm, especially around its theatrical release window. The Court balanced this with concerns over the broad impact on intermediaries by directing the producer to indemnify affected parties, and accordingly issued the injunction (subject to compliance with procedural requirements) until the next hearing date in June 2026, recognising both the urgency of anti-piracy protection and the need to safeguard legitimate business interests.
‘Hera Pheri’ Rights Dispute Escalates into Criminal FIR Over Alleged Cheating and Extortion
A long-standing copyright dispute surrounding the iconic Hera Pheri franchise has intensified after producer Firoz Nadiadwala filed an FIR in Mumbai alleging cheating, defamation, and extortion over the remake rights of the original Malayalam film Ramji Rao Speaking, on which Hera Pheri is based. Nadiadwala claims he lawfully acquired the remake and multi-language rights in 2000, but certain producers have repeatedly contested ownership, issued legal threats, and allegedly demanded money and a share in profits while spreading misleading claims to disrupt his rights and projects. The dispute, which dates back over two decades and has resurfaced with fresh legal notices and court proceedings, now raises serious questions around competing copyright claims and could impact future developments like Hera Pheri 3.
Madras High Court Grants Pre-Release Anti-Piracy Injunction to Protect ‘Ek Din’
The Madras High Court granted an urgent ad interim injunction in favour of Aamir Khan Productions to restrain internet service providers and cable operators from any unauthorised broadcast or dissemination of the film Ek Din ahead of its release, recognising that pre-release piracy could cause “irreversible injury” to the film’s commercial value. While acknowledging the broad scope of such anti-piracy relief and its potential impact on intermediaries, the Court balanced interests by directing the producer to indemnify affected parties, and ordered that the injunction would continue until the next hearing date in June 2026.
Delhi High Court Rejects Plagiarism Claims in ‘Golden Stag’ Dispute, Ends 15-Year Legal Battle
The Delhi High Court dismissed copyright infringement allegations by author Shivsundari Bose against David Davidar, holding that there was no evidence to prove that his novel The House of the Blue Mangoes plagiarised her manuscript Golden Stag. The Court noted that similarities arising from a shared theme or setting do not constitute plagiarism and found that the differences between the two works outweighed any alleged overlap. It also observed that Bose failed to substantiate key claims, including proof of submission of her manuscript to the publisher, while simultaneously rejecting Davidar’s defamation claim against her, concluding that her communications were made in good faith thereby bringing an end to a long-running dispute with no relief granted to either side.
Read more here
