Delhi HC orders WhatsApp, Telegram, Google to Act against Copyright Infringement for safeguarding educational Content
Last Updated on September 29, 2023 by News Desk
The distribution of study materials posted by the online portal Apna College was said to have violated the copyright of two users, and the Delhi High Court ordered WhatsApp to deactivate their phone numbers. Justice Prathiba M. Singh found evidence that these users were sharing infringing material and ordered the deactivation of the two numbers.
The court emphasised that if the defendants are not blocked from disseminating the copyrighted material, the plaintiff would suffer enormous monetary loss, loss of subscribers, and loss of goodwill.
The court also ordered Telegram to block channels sharing infringing content and to disclose their details so they can be impleaded in the suit. Telegram agreed to provide the information as long as it is used exclusively for the purposes of the legal proceedings.
Google was directed to take down a YouTube channel sharing copyrighted works of Apna College, and domain name registrars were also directed to lock and suspend three websites and share their details.
WhatsApp had previously opposed the plea to block the numbers, arguing that while action can be taken against WhatsApp groups sharing such content, the deactivation of numbers will result in the blocking of the user’s private communications as well.
The judgement was rendered in the case brought by Jainemo Private Limited, which operates the website known as Apna College and distributes educational materials and vocational training programmes. The company alleged that various unknown individuals or entities have started disseminating its content on platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and YouTube and are even collecting fees from the students for it.
The court held that Apna College holds ownership over the course material as “literary works” and over videos as “cinematographic films” under the Copyright Act.
The court restrained a total of 18 defendants from downloading, uploading, storing, sharing, transmitting, selling, offering for sale, storing, or utilising any of the course material of the plaintiff in the Alpha, Delta, and Alpha Plus courses on any electronic platform.
Case Title: Jainemo Pvt. Ltd. vs. Rahul Shah & Ors.
Written by: Srijan Raj @raaj_srijan
