Delhi High Court Grants Relief To India Today Group Against Dissemination Of Its E-Magazines By Illegal Telegram Channels

Justice Amit Bansal observed as the owners and licence holders of the original literary and artistic work (magazines), India Today Group is entitled to protection against unauthorized dissemination.

Living Media India Limited (plaintiff no. 1), a proprietor of the publications 'India Today', 'Business Today', and 'Auto Today' and T.V. Today Network Limited (plaintiff no. 2), a part of the India Today Group sought a permanent injunction against the defendants from infringing its trademarks and copyright.

The India Today Group stated that several channels and accounts running on telegram are engaged in infringing its copyright and trademark by illegally uploading e-magazines or misrepresenting themselves as its official channels to provide free copies of the magazines. It also stated that Telegram facilitates such infringement by allowing third party users to create 'bots' on its platform.

It stated that the India Today Group of Companies has widespread commercial interests in both print and electronic media and is engaged in diverse business activities including printing and publishing of magazines, journals and periodicals. It stated that they have several trademark registrations including India Today, Business Today and Aaj Tak.

India Today Group submitted that it has exclusive rights over several magazines including India Today English, India Today Hindi, Business Today and Reader's Digest India. It stated that the magazines are made available to the public on subscription-based models and that the subscriptions for the magazines constitute a major source of income. It was stated that a huge amount of money was spent to promote the group's magazine and news channels.

India Today Group argued that the defendants' actions have caused a loss of paid readership/subscribers, leading to financial loss. It stated that defendants' illegal actions continue to dilute their proprietary rights.

After summons was issued in the suit, Telegram filed a written statement indicating that it had deleted the infringing channels and that it would take steps to delete any other infringing channels. The Court took note of Telegram's statement and said that it shall be bound by the statement.

The Court noted that the defendants/infringing channels did not file any written statements and thus proceeded with a summary judgment under Order 8 Rule 10 CPC.

The Court stated that the India Today Group established their rights over the copyright of the magazines and trademarks. It noted that the defendants adopted the impugned trademarks as their channel's display pictures in an attempt to misrepresent their channels as being connected to India Today.

The Court thus held that a case of copyright and trademark infringement was made out. It permanently restrained the defendants from disseminating and infringing the plaintiffs' copyright of the magazines and registered trademarks.

Case title: Living Media India Limited & Anr. vs. Telegram FZ LLC & Ors

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 318