The Delhi High Court recently restrained rogue websites, cable tv platforms, direct home services as well as ‘John Doe’ defendants from committing copyright infringement of the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan movie, Jawan.
Justice C Hari Shankar passed the order after a suit was filed by Red Chillies Entertainment Private Limited, the production house owned by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan.
Therefore, the Court in its order also directed social media platforms like YouTube, Google, Twitter and Reddit to take steps to stop the circulation of the copyrighted content of the movie.
Further, Justice Hari Shankar ordered various internet service providers to block access to the websites displaying or making available for viewing or downloading the content of the movie.
The film is set to be released in theatres on June 2.
Red Chillies Entertainment approached the High Court stating that two video clips related to the film have been leaked on social media platforms.
The first clip shows a fight sequence involving Khan. The second clip was of a dance sequence involving Shah Rukh Khan and the Film’s female lead actor, Nayanthara.
The Court told that “It is the plaintiff’s (Red Chillies) case that these Leaked video clips are nothing but a clear violation of copyright/intellectual property rights of the plaintiff which are causing damage and loss to the plaintiff. The leaked video clips together give away the look of the actors in the said film, as well as the music, both of which are typically disclosed at strategic points in time as part of the carefully curated marketing strategy of a film.”
Further, the suit said that there are certain photographs/stills that have been leaked by defendants from the set of the film when it was being shot in the studios behind closed doors.
Therefore, an apprehension was expressed that the rogue social media handles would further copy, reproduce and distribute the copyright-protected materials and other proprietary information on various platforms.
“The plaintiff reasonably apprehends that such publication and unauthorized circulation of the leaked video clips and said film will jeopardize the promotion and exploitation rights of the plaintiff in the said film and as and when the said film is released in theatres, similar acts of piracy relating to the entire Film would also commence and intermediaries/websites as described would again be utilized to illegally copy, record, download, reproduce, transmit and communicate the said copyright protected work to the general public.”
After considering the case, the judge passed the interim order.
Red Chillies represented by a team of DSK Legal comprising Parag Khandhar, Partner and Chandrima Mitra, Partner. They were assisted by advocate Krishan Kumar. Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao along with advocate Nizamuddin Pasha argued in the case.
