Unacademy Can't Use ANI's Videos Without Permission: Delhi District Court

Unacademy Can't Use ANI's Videos Without Permission: Delhi District Court

Introduction

The Delhi District Court has restrained ed-tech company Unacademy from using videos of news wire agency Asian News International (ANI) on its YouTube channel ‘Pathfinder by Unacademy’. The Court also directed Unacademy to take down the videos and ordered Google (which owns YouTube) to block and disable access to the infringing content.

Factual Background

ANI had moved the Court against Unacademy for allegedly using its original works without obtaining any license, authorization, or consent. The news agency claimed that Unacademy was gaining commercially by using its videos on its YouTube channel, which has over 1.26 million subscribers. ANI argued that it is the first owner of the copyright in its videos and has an exclusive right to commercially exploit them.

Procedural Background

District Judge Hemani Malhotra passed an order on July 14, restraining Unacademy from posting, publishing, uploading, distributing, or using ANI's original videos or any copyrighted work. The Court also directed Google/YouTube to comply with the takedown and block access to the infringing content in line with the Copyright Act and platform policy. ANI had filed copyright strikes on YouTube, and Unacademy had issued counter-strikes before the news agency approached the Court.

Contentions of the Parties

ANI contended that Unacademy had copied its original videos in entirety, including all qualitative and quantitative aspects, and was exploiting them for commercial gain. Unacademy, on the other hand, argued fair dealing, claiming it discussed news reports for civil service candidates. However, the Court held that using entire videos went beyond fair dealing and constituted copyright infringement.

Reasoning & Analysis

The Court's decision highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property rights, particularly in the digital age. The judgment emphasizes that copyright infringement can have serious consequences, including financial losses and damage to the original creator's reputation. The Court's order also underscores the need for online platforms to ensure that their users do not infringe on others' intellectual property rights.

Implications

The implications of the Court's decision are significant for ed-tech companies, news agencies, and online platforms. It emphasizes the need for these entities to respect intellectual property rights and obtain necessary permissions or licenses before using copyrighted content. The decision also highlights the importance of protecting original content and preventing unauthorized use.

Final Outcome

The outcome of the case is a victory for ANI, which had sought to protect its intellectual property rights. The Court's order restraining Unacademy from using its copyrighted videos and directing Google to block and disable access to the infringing content sends a strong message about the importance of respecting intellectual property rights.

In this case the plaintiff was represented by Ms. Anshika Saxena, Advocate. Meanwhile the defendant was represented by Ms. Himani Sachdeva, Advocate.