Delhi High Court Restrains Unauthorized Content Use of ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has restrained the unauthorised use of name, characters and content of popular TV serial ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’.

This popular TV serial is on air for over 16 years with approximately 4,000 episodes.

The makers of the show alleged that several entities were using its names, images of characters, etc. for commercial gains by running websites, selling merchandise and even publishing “sexually explicit and vulgar” videos on YouTube.

The Delhi Court passed an interim order against several known and unknown entities on a lawsuit by show’s producer, Neela Film Productions Pvt Ltd.

The plaintiff alleged that although it has copyright of its various characters and animations, some entities were unauthorisedly selling merchandise such as T-shirts, posters and stickers bearing the images and dialogues of characters from the show, through websites and e-commerce platforms.

“An order of ex parte ad-interim injunction is passed thereby restraining the defendant nos. 1 to 12 and 14 to 21, (including the John Doe parties)… from in any manner …publishing …offering for sale on their websites …the plaintiff’s copyrighted material/registered trademarks, including, but not limited to the title, the characters, format and underlying materials in the said show or anything else, which otherwise amounts to an infringement of the plaintiff’s copyright/registered trademarks/passing off of the goods/services offered by the defendants,” the court said in an order passed on August 14.

The court further ordered that YouTube videos, which contain character or material from the show, including pornographic content, were required to be brought down by those making the uploads.

In case the infringing videos are not brought down within 48 hours, the IT Ministry and the Department of Telecom will ask the respective internet service providers/intermediaries to suspend all links or videos, the court said.