Hollywood strikes first AI copyright truce with ByteDance
The Movement Image Affiliation (MPA) has entered into its first settlement with a man-made intelligence firm, following months of discussions with ByteDance regarding copyright safeguards for its AI video and image-generation instruments, Seedance and Seedream.
The settlement follows the MPA’s February cease-and-desist discover alleging that Seedance 2.0 had been educated on copyrighted materials and was able to producing unauthorised movies that includes protected characters and replicating scenes from movies and tv programmes. Whereas the precise safeguards agreed between the events haven’t been disclosed, each MPA and ByteDance have described the settlement as strengthening protections in opposition to unauthorised use of mental property.
The event marks an rising development in direction of negotiated copyright safeguards between rightsholders and AI builders, in opposition to the backdrop of continuous issues over using copyrighted works for AI coaching and technology.
HUL strikes Delhi HC in opposition to Beco’s ‘dangerous chemical compounds’ advert marketing campaign concentrating on Surf Excel, Vim
Hindustan Unilever Restricted (HUL) has moved the Delhi Excessive Courtroom in opposition to home-care model Beco over an promoting marketing campaign claiming that HUl’s Surf Excel and Vim comprise chemical compounds able to inflicting pores and skin irritation and allergic reactions.
The swimsuit alleged business disparagement, trademark infringement and passing off. The Delhi Excessive Courtroom issued discover to Beco on HUL’s utility in search of an interim injunction in opposition to the marketing campaign. The matter is scheduled for additional listening to on August 21.
Beco had launched its ‘#WarOnWhatsHidden’ marketing campaign final week by movies, social media posts, influencers and outside hoardings evaluating its laundry and dishwashing liquids with Surf Excel Matic Liquid and Vim Dishwash Gel.
Based on HUL’s submissions, the commercials declare that two chemical compounds, Benzisothiazolinone (BIT) and Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS), are current in Surf Excel, whereas LAS is current in Vim. The marketing campaign says these elements could cause pores and skin irritation and allergic reactions. HUL has alleged that the commercials painting its merchandise as dangerous and encourage customers to modify to Beco merchandise. It has additionally objected to using its registered taglines, together with Vim’s “100 nimbuon ki shakti” and Surf Excel’s “Daag Achhe Hain” within the marketing campaign.
CCPA fines Amazon for Rs. 1 Lakh for deceptive ‘Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad’ itemizing
The Central Client Safety Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of ₹1 lakh on Amazon for allowing deceptive listings of sweets marketed as “Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad” with out authorisation from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Belief.
The CCPA held that the expression carries a particular which means for customers, denoting sacred meals supplied on the Ram Temple, and that its business use for peculiar confectionery amounted to a deceptive commerce apply below the Client Safety Act, 2019.
Importantly, the Authority rejected Amazon’s rivalry that it merely acted as a market middleman. It held that by internet hosting, displaying and facilitating the sale of the listings, and incomes market charges from the transactions, Amazon was a celebration to the publication of the deceptive commercials below Part 21(4) of the Client Safety Act.
Supreme Courtroom Stays Calcutta HC Order Holding Unlicensed IPRS Music In Inns Is Copyright Infringement
On 20th August, 2026, the Supreme Courtroom stayed a Calcutta Excessive Courtroom judgment holding that offering cable tv connections to particular person resort rooms quantities to “communication to the general public” below the Copyright Act, 1957 and constitutes copyright infringement.
A Bench comprising Justices Ok.V. Viswanathan and Arun Palli issued discover and stayed the Excessive Courtroom judgment whereas listening to Lodge Appolo & Excursions Personal Restricted’s problem to the judgment dated 4 August 2026.
The Excessive Courtroom had restrained Lodge Appolo from speaking literary and musical works belonging to members of The Indian Performing Proper Society Restricted (IPRS) to resort friends by tv units put in in its rooms with out acquiring a sound licence from IPRS. It had held that offering cable tv connections to particular person resort rooms constitutes “communication to the general public” throughout the which means of the Copyright Act. The Excessive Courtroom had additionally put aside an order of the Darjeeling District Decide refusing IPRS interim aid.
Submissions had been made on behalf of the Appellants that a number of judgments coping with cable networks had handled the individual subscribing to the cable service because the individual to whom the communication is made. He argued that within the current case, “the resort itself is the subscriber” and the cable operator, in flip, communicates the tv indicators to the resort. The Bench, nonetheless, sought to make clear the exact nature of the dispute and requested whether or not the resort, because the subscriber and finish client, would stop to be the last word client merely as a result of its friends view the programmes within the resort rooms.
The Supreme Courtroom thereafter stayed the operation of the Excessive Courtroom judgment and issued discover.
Learn order right here.
NCLT Mumbai Admits ₹11.94 Cr Insolvency Plea In opposition to Reliance Leisure, Says Safety Deposit Is Debt
The Mumbai NCLT has admitted Pen India Personal Restricted’s Part 7 IBC utility in opposition to Reliance Leisure Studios Pvt. Ltd. in relation to an alleged default of roughly ₹11.94 crore.
The dispute arose from a Safety Deposit Settlement below which Pen India had superior ₹20 crore to Reliance Leisure. The Tribunal held that the quantity superior below the settlement may represent “monetary debt” below Part 5(8) of the Insolvency and Chapter Code, 2016, and accordingly commenced insolvency proceedings in opposition to Reliance Leisure Studios.
The order is critical for the therapy of safety deposits and comparable contractual advances throughout the statutory definition of monetary debt.
Tamil Movie Business Faces Launch Freeze Over Eight-Week OTT Window
The Tamil Movie Producers Council and Tamil Nadu Lively Producers Affiliation have introduced that no new Tamil movies shall be launched in theatres from 1 September, following a dispute over the theatrical-to-OTT launch window.
The choice follows bulletins by the Tamil Nadu Theatre House owners Affiliation and Distributors Affiliation that they’d display screen new movies provided that producers supplied a written dedication guaranteeing an eight-week theatrical window earlier than OTT launch. The producers’ our bodies have opposed the choice, stating that it was taken with out session, and have additionally introduced a halt to capturing and post-production actions.
The dispute highlights the persevering with contractual and business tensions between producers, distributors, exhibitors and OTT platforms over the suitable theatrical exclusivity interval.
Demon Hunter Sues Netflix Over ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Trademark
Christian metallic band Demon Hunter has sued Netflix and AEG Presents, alleging trademark infringement and unfair competitors arising from Netflix’s animated movie KPop Demon Hunters.
The band claims registered rights within the mark “Demon Hunter” and alleges that the similarity between the marks has induced precise confusion. Among the many examples cited within the lawsuit is a client who allegedly bought live performance tickets believing they had been tickets to see the fictional group featured within the Netflix movie. The band has additionally alleged that search outcomes for its music and merchandise are being displaced by the recognition of the Netflix title.
The swimsuit seeks injunctive aid and financial cures, putting questions of chance of confusion, precise confusion and the scope of safety afforded to entertainment-related emblems squarely at situation.
Madras HC points discover to a few for ‘defaming’ Periyar in guide
The Madras Excessive Courtroom has issued discover to 2 authors and a writer in a swimsuit filed by Dravidar Kazhagam chief Ok. Veeramani regarding alleged defamatory and false attribution of statements to the late social reformer Periyar.
The swimsuit issues the guide Delimitation and States Reorganization for a Higher Democracy in Bharat, which allegedly attributes statements advocating violence in opposition to Brahmins to Periyar. The plaintiff has sought ₹1 crore in damages and has additionally alleged infringement of ethical rights below the Copyright Act, 1957, alongside defamation and intentional falsification of the historic file.
The matter raises an fascinating intersection between copyright ethical rights, historic attribution and defamation, and is subsequent listed earlier than the Madras Excessive Courtroom on 10 September.
Character rights can’t be used to stifle freedom of expression, satire: Delhi Excessive Courtroom
The Delhi Excessive Courtroom has cautioned that the idea of persona rights can’t be deployed in an overbroad method to forestall dissemination of knowledge regarding wrongdoing or to extinguish types of expression similar to caricature, lampooning and parody, notably the place such expression doesn’t quantity to business exploitation of a person’s persona or publicity rights.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani made the commentary whereas coping with a swimsuit filed by educator and Physics Wallah founder Alakh Pandey alleging infringement of his persona and publicity rights by varied on-line platforms.
The Courtroom noticed that the idea of persona rights, as claimed within the matter, “could also be over broad and due to this fact vulnerable to misapplication.”
Referring to an earlier determination of a coordinate bench in DM Leisure Pvt. Ltd. v. Child Reward Home & Ors., the Courtroom mentioned that this courtroom would wish to look at and make sure that persona rights will not be deployed to forestall dissemination of knowledge in relation to wrongdoing; or to extinguish a whole style of expression together with caricature, lampooning or parady which can not quantity to business exploitation of a person’s persona or publicity rights.
Continuing on this warning, the Courtroom mentioned that, on the interim stage, it was persuaded to grant safety to Pandey solely in respect of three units of alleged violations. The identical included content material portraying him in a sexually vulgar method, content material which monetised his persona for achieve with no licence or proper to take action, and content material involving impersonation of him. Accordingly, the Courtroom handed an ex-parte ad-interim injunction in opposition to sure defendants in respect of the alleged infringing content material.
The Courtroom additionally directed a number of middleman defendants to take down the offending URLs and disclose related particulars of individuals behind the allegedly infringing accounts and content material.
The Courtroom directed that if Pandey discovers that any mirror web sites of the recognized defendant web sites are infringing his copyright of their content material, he could be at liberty to furnish to the involved ISP or DNR, on affidavit, the particulars of such different web sites evidencing prima facie about infringement of his rights to such content material.
Udan vs Udaan: Delhi courtroom restrains pharmaceutical agency from utilizing ‘Udaan’ mark
Delhi District Courtroom has completely restrained a Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical firm from utilizing the trademark ‘Udaan’ or any comparable mark, ruling that it was a transparent violation of the rights of client items main RSPL Well being Personal Restricted, which had earlier registered its mark ‘Udan.’
Within the judgement, it was held that the defendant, Sainus Pharmaceutical Personal Restricted, used the mark ‘Udaan’ in a fashion that was “similar and deceptively comparable” to the plaintiff’s (RSPL’s) registered trademark ‘Udan’. The courtroom famous that, in keeping with RSPL Well being, it had adopted the trademark or label Udan with respect to the products and enterprise of sanitary napkins in 2007 and Sainus Pharma’s Udaan mark had infringed its proprietary rights within the mentioned trademark.
In its order, the courtroom mentioned that the defendant didn’t seem earlier than it, and thus the plaintiff’s contentions stay unrebutted, unchallenged, and uncontroverted. Apart from the everlasting injunction, the courtroom ordered that every one seized counterfeit merchandise and infringing supplies, together with packaging, dies, and blocks bearing the falsified mark, be delivered to RSPL Well being for destruction.
Learn judgement right here.
Govt holds high-level assembly on BARC scores; touchdown web page row takes centre stage
The federal government is prone to clear the way in which for the resumption of tv viewers measurement by the Broadcast Viewers Analysis Council (BARC) within the coming days, following a high-level assembly on the extended scores deadlock, folks acquainted with the event mentioned.
The assembly, attended by the Info and Broadcasting Secretary and senior authorities officers, mentioned at size the excellent points surrounding BARC’s compliance with the Tv Ranking Coverage 2026 and the necessity to restore tv scores on the earliest, sources mentioned.
The problem of landing-page viewership was mentioned in depth in the course of the assembly, with the federal government additionally inspecting the competing positions of stories media networks and the persevering with tug-of-war over how this viewership ought to be handled below the brand new scores framework, in keeping with folks acquainted with the discussions.
The landing-page situation has emerged as one of the contentious elements of the federal government’s revised tv scores coverage, with broadcasters taking sharply totally different positions relying on the impression of the methodology on their companies. Whereas the federal government is known to be shifting in direction of permitting BARC to renew measurement, it stays unclear whether or not the scores physique shall be permitted to restart measurement this week and publish the primary set of scores on August 27.
MeitY session says blanket social media ban for kids received’t be efficient
A session held by the Ministry of Electronics and Info Know-how (MeitY) together with a social impression consultancy, has mentioned {that a} blanket ban on social media for kids won’t be efficient, folks conscious of the main points have quoted.
MeitY, together with social impression consultancy Space2Grow, and civil society organisations met to debate the difficulty of on-line baby security. The session was headed by MeitY secretary S Krishnan.
It was deliberated whether or not a brand new chapter within the Info Know-how Act, an altogether separate legislation or pointers by the nation’s apex baby rights physique Nationwide Fee for Safety of Youngster Rights (NCPCR) ought to be developed.
NCPCR is at present within the course of of making a social media code of conduct for social media platforms, together with Instagram, Fb, X and Snapchat, to strengthen safeguards for kids on-line.
The code is being ready in session with MeitY, the Division of Telecommunications (DoT), the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), social media corporations and civil society organisations.
Madras HC orders ISPs to dam pirated copies of Awarapan 2, Batwara 1947
The Madras Excessive Courtroom has granted interim anti-piracy injunctions defending Awarapan 2 and Batwara 1947. The courtroom directed 29 web and telecom service suppliers to dam infringing web sites. It additionally restrained 4 cable operators from unauthorised distribution of the movies.
Justice Ok. Surender handed each orders on August 14, 2026. The injunctions will stay in drive till September 11.
Vishesh Photos Pvt Ltd, the producer of Awarapan 2, filed one case. Aamir Khan Productions Pvt Ltd, the producer of Batwara 1947, filed the opposite case. Each corporations approached the courtroom over apprehended copyright infringement and sought considerably comparable aid.
A separate a part of every case lined 4 cable operators. They had been Motion Lane, JAK Communications, C32 Cable Internet and Thamizhaga Cable TV Communication.
The producers sought to cease these operators and other people performing by them from unauthorised copying, recording or camcording of the movies. In addition they sought to forestall unauthorised replica, distribution, importing, downloading, exhibition or transmission. The purposes lined cable TV, direct-to-home companies and the web. In addition they lined CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, VCDs, storage units, satellite tv for pc programs and different media.
Learn orders right here and right here.
Dream11 pulls plug on paid contests, pivots to social gameplay amid RMG crackdown
Dream11 is making a departure from its real-money gaming (RMG) enterprise, with the platform telling customers that it’s shifting its focus to fan engagement, content material and social gameplay, whereas persevering with to supply free contests.
In a notification to customers, Dream11 mentioned, “Dream11 is now turning into a single vacation spot for sports activities followers with a concentrate on fan engagement, content material and social gameplay. In the meantime, you’ll be able to proceed to get pleasure from free contests on Dream11. Your energetic subscription charges shall be refunded inside 72 hours. Keep tuned for extra updates.”
The announcement has triggered questions on social media about whether or not Dream11 is successfully winding down its paid gaming enterprise or getting ready for a brand new avatar.
The uncertainty comes because the authorized problem to India’s on-line gaming regime strikes nearer to a vital stage. The Supreme Courtroom is heading in direction of ultimate hearings on petitions difficult the Promotion and Regulation of On-line Gaming Act, 2025, which launched a nationwide prohibition on real-money on-line gaming. The proceedings may decide whether or not the ban overlaying each skill-based and chance-based cash video games will proceed to stay in drive.
