Copyright Infringement: ANI Sues PTI In Delhi High Court
The rival news agencies are fighting in a battle of copyright infringement. In a case pertaining to copyright infringement and plagiarism filed by Asian News International (ANI), the Delhi High Court on Monday issued summons to Press Trust of India (PTI).
In their petition, ANI argues that PTI has copied its videos where Delhi-Darbhanga SpiceJet flight’s AC stopped working even as the plane was on the runway. The incident occurred on June 19, 2024, the time when the country was witnessing intense heat wave.
The video captured the distress faced by the flight where, shorter and longer versions of the video from inside the flight were captured by ANI’s video journalist. However, as soon as they appeared on ANI’s feed and shared on X, PTI released identical videos as well.
ANI has urged damages of over Rs. 2 crores as well as permanent injunction preventing PTI from publishing any other original works of the complainant.
ANI was represented through law firm Unum Law, while Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao appeared for PTI.
PTI said that it will take down the videos within 24 hours.
Senior Advocate Chander M Lall and advocate Sidhant Kumar, appeared for ANI also emphasised that PTI must issue an apology and explanation to the news publications who published the report as a PTI feed.
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“They must take down and acknowledge that it is my work. They must apologise. They must write to all the newspapers who published the report as PTI feed. PTI has been stealing my feeds,” Chander M Lall argued.
However, PTI’s counsel stated that “no apology” was needed and the video has been a “third party content”.
Though the Court initially wanted to mention the two news agencies to mediation, but ANI’s counsel opposed the suggestion.
Finally, the Supreme Court issues summons to PTI and Lall said that the two parties will discuss on the issue.
(With inputs from Bar and Bench)
