Delhi High Court: In an application for permanent injunction for violation of intellectual property rights, disclosure against impersonation and misuse of personality rights of Plaintiff 2, Anjana Om Kashyap, the Single Judge Bench of Tejas Karia, J, granted permanent injunction in favour of the news anchor. Since the YouTube Channel had already been disabled by Defendant 1, Google LLC, the Court did not pass any further orders regarding the same.
In the instant suit, john doe defendants (Defendant 2) had started a YouTube Channel under the name of ‘@AnjanaomKashya’ (‘YouTube Channel’) which used the photographs and various fake videos of the news reporter of Anjana Om Kashyap (‘Plaintiff 2’). The videos, including news clippings were used in a manner depicting the same as that of Plaintiff 2.
The Court vide order dated, 20-6-2025, had observed that the plaintiffs had made out a prima facie case and had granted an ad interim injunction directing Defendant 2 to take down the YouTube Channel.
The Court noted that the plaintiffs’ grievance arose from the deliberate creation of the YouTube Channel using Plaintiff 2’s photographs, purported news clippings and videos without any authorization from Plaintiff 2.
The Court further stated that the name of YouTube Channel is also suggestive of an intent to misappropriate Plaintiff 2’s personality and established identity and to mislead viewers into believing that the YouTube Channel originates from or is endorsed by Plaintiff 2. The screenshots and extracts of the YouTube Channel demonstrate that the content is being presented in a manner that capitalises upon Plaintiff 2’s reputation in the field of news dissemination.
The Court opined that the fake YouTube channels of a well-known organisation or a personality are likely to result in enormous damage and dissemination of misinformation as the same would lack editorial control. Thus, the Court held that Defendant 2 is required to be restrained by way of permanent injunction.
Since Defendant 1, Google LLC, was already in compliance with the order dated 20-6-2025 by which the YouTube Channels had been ordered to be taken down, the Court did not pass any further directions on the same.
Accordingly, the Court disposed the application.
[T.V. Today Network Ltd. v. Google LLC, C.S. (COMM) No. 634 of 2025, decided on 11-11-2025]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the Plaintiffs: Hrishikesh Baruah, Kumar Kshitij, Utkarsh Dwivedi, Yashaswy Ghosh, Anurag Mishra, Pragya Agarwal, Nishtha Sachan, Advocates
For the Respondent: Mamta R Jha, Shruttima Ehersa, Advocates