Delhi Excessive Court docket orders OTT platforms so as to add accessibility options
The Delhi Excessive Court docket has directed OTT and content material producers to incorporate important accessibility options comparable to subtitles, closed captions, and audio descriptions of their exhibits and movies. The Court docket issued this order whereas listening to a petition in search of the inclusion of accessibility options together with audio descriptions, same-language captions, and Indian signal language on OTT platforms for viewers with visible and listening to impairments. The Court docket additional directed OTT platforms and movie producers to include these options in a specified checklist of movies launched on their platforms. Titles coated underneath this directive embody The Buckingham Murders, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Shaitan, and Article 370.
Akshay Kumar’s manufacturing home slaps ₹25 Crore authorized discover on Paresh Rawal over Hera Pheri 3 exit
Paresh Rawal introduced his departure from the upcoming movie Hera Pheri 3, the place he was set to reprise his iconic function as Baburao Ganpatrao Apte. The exit has led to authorized tensions, with Akshay Kumar’s manufacturing firm, Cape of Good Movies, reportedly submitting a ₹25 crore lawsuit towards Rawal for alleged breach of contract. In response, Rawal’s authorized workforce said that there was no finalized script or formal settlement on the time of his withdrawal. Regardless of the controversy, Rawal has returned his signing quantity, together with curiosity as a goodwill gesture, indicating a want to resolve the matter amicably.
Allahabad Excessive Court docket Urges Overhaul of Outdated Playing Legal guidelines
In a major improvement, the Allahabad Excessive Court docket has highlighted the inadequacy of the colonial-era Public Playing Act of 1867 in addressing the complexities of recent on-line playing and betting. Throughout a listening to involving allegations of on-line betting operations in Agra, Justice Vinod Diwakar emphasised the challenges posed by digital platforms, particularly these with servers based mostly exterior India, which complicate enforcement efforts. Recognizing the potential psychological well being and monetary dangers related to on-line playing, significantly amongst youth and lower-income teams, the courtroom directed the Uttar Pradesh authorities to type a committee led by Financial Advisor Prof. Ok.V. Raju. This committee, comprising specialists in know-how, finance, legislation enforcement, and taxation, is tasked with evaluating the present on-line gaming panorama and recommending a complete authorized framework. The courtroom additionally referenced the UK’s Playing Act of 2005 as a possible mannequin for India’s regulatory method.
Tamil Nadu Gaming Authority points notices on betting apps for regulatory violations
The Tamil Nadu On-line Gaming Authority (TNOGA) has issued notices to not less than 25 on-line gaming firms for violating state laws, prompting many corporations to start implementing compliance. New measures embody prohibiting participant entry to video games from midnight to five a.m., warning pop-ups, money limits, and time-restriction options. Although some firms have responded positively and are implementing these guidelines, others stay non-compliant. TNOGA Chairperson M.D. Nasimuddin famous that motion could also be taken towards persistently non-compliant apps, together with in search of bans via the Ministry of Electronics and Data Know-how (MEITY).
Supreme Court docket points discover to Centre on plea to ban unlawful betting apps
The Supreme Court docket has agreed to listen to a Public Curiosity Litigation (PIL) in search of a whole ban on unlawful betting apps in India. The petition additionally requires stringent laws on on-line gaming and fantasy sports activities, together with the enactment of complete laws to manipulate these actions. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N.Ok. Singh issued a discover to the Central Authorities, requesting its response. Nonetheless, the courtroom shunned issuing notices to state governments at this stage.
As per on-line sources, the petition references an FIR lodged in Telangana towards 25 celebrities and influencers for selling betting apps, in addition to studies of 24 suicides linked to on-line betting money owed within the state.
Kerala Excessive Court docket declines to quash dishonest case towards ‘Manjummel Boys’ producers
The Kerala Excessive Court docket has dismissed petitions filed by actor-producer Soubin Shahir, his father Babu Shahir, and Shawn Antony- producers of the Malayalam blockbuster Manjummel Boys—in search of to quash a dishonest case associated to the movie’s manufacturing. The case stems from a criticism by investor Siraj Valiyathara Hameed, who alleged that he invested Rs. 7 crore within the movie in trade for a 40% share of the earnings, which he claims he didn’t obtain regardless of the movie’s business success.
ASCI urges regulatory readability on Opinion Buying and selling platforms
The Promoting Requirements Council of India (ASCI) has launched a white paper calling for clear laws on opinion buying and selling platforms, also called prediction markets. These platforms enable customers to wager on outcomes of future occasions, and their authorized standing in India stays ambiguous. ASCI highlighted that in some jurisdictions, such platforms are regulated as monetary devices, whereas in others, they fall underneath playing legal guidelines. ASCI expressed concern over the promoting practices of those platforms, noting that they typically make exaggerated claims of simple earnings with out satisfactory disclaimers, probably deceptive customers.
Delhi Excessive Court docket: Widespread Names Like ‘Neha’ Can Be Emblems If They Achieve Distinctiveness
The Delhi Excessive Court docket has dominated that widespread Indian names, comparable to “Neha,” might be protected as logos in the event that they purchase inherent distinctiveness or a secondary which means via intensive business use. In a case involving competing claims over the “NEHA” trademark for natural merchandise and face lotions, Justice Sanjeev Narula emphasised that whereas widespread names are inherently weaker in authorized safety, they will achieve trademark standing if customers affiliate them with a particular supply. The courtroom highlighted the need of presenting credible proof—like promoting bills, market share, and shopper surveys—to ascertain such distinctiveness.
Delhi Excessive Court docket: Mere Inclusion of a Mark in Buying and selling Title Doesn’t Confer Trademark Rights
The Delhi Excessive Court docket has clarified that merely together with a mark in a buying and selling title doesn’t mechanically grant it trademark safety. Justice Sanjeev Narula emphasised that for a mark to be protected, it have to be utilized in a fashion that identifies the supply of products or providers and distinguishes them from others—an idea generally known as “use within the trademark sense.” The courtroom famous that such utilization have to be evident within the public area and never restricted to inner documentation or preparatory actions. This ruling got here whereas rejecting a agency’s ‘prior use’ declare in a trademark swimsuit, which was solely based mostly on a producing license. The courtroom held {that a} license signifies statutory permission however doesn’t set up precise use of a trademark in commerce. The choice underscores that trademark rights come up via tangible business actions that construct goodwill and shopper affiliation.