ANI sues Netflix for copyright infringement in 'IC-814' series
- In Reports
- 06:30 PM, Sep 09, 2024
- Myind Staff
News agency ANI has filed a lawsuit against Netflix Inc. and the producers of the Indian series "IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack," accusing them of using ANI’s content without permission. The legal action, which was filed in the Delhi High Court, requests the removal of four episodes from the series due to the unauthorised use of ANI’s copyright archival footage and trademark, according to ANI’s lawyer, Sidhant Kumar. The lawyer told Reuters on Monday, "They have used copyright archival footage of ANI without a licence, they have also used the (ANI) trademark."
The series, a fictionalised version of the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 from Kathmandu, has been embroiled in controversy since its release last month. The six-episode show has drawn heavy criticism from members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and social media users for its portrayal of the hijackers as Hindus with Hindu names when in reality, the hijackers were Muslims.
Sidhant Kumar added, "Since the series has come into such criticism, our trademark and brand name are being tarnished," explaining ANI’s demand for Netflix to take down the four episodes where its content was allegedly used without a licence.
In response to the growing controversy, Netflix introduced additional disclaimers to the series last week. The streaming platform was summoned by India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to address concerns over the show. Netflix officials explained that the code names used in the series reflected those used during the actual hijacking incident.
The Delhi High Court has agreed to hear the case and has sought a response from Netflix regarding ANI’s claims. The lawsuit raises significant questions about intellectual property rights and the use of copyrighted materials in media productions. While Netflix has yet to publicly comment on the lawsuit, the outcome of the case could set a precedent for similar issues involving the use of media content in the future.
Image source: Bar and Bench
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