Court orders Meta Platforms Inc. to provide account details and preserve content amidst allegations of copyright misuse.
In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has granted relief to Mohammed Nawaz Shaikh, a digital content creator and plaintiff in the case, who sought legal redress against alleged misuse of copyright reporting systems by multiple defendants, which resulted in the suspension of his verified Instagram account. The court, presided over by Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani, has directed Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Instagram, to verify the status of Shaikh's account and provide subscriber information to facilitate further legal action.
Shaikh, represented by advocates Mr. Himanshu Goyal and Ms. Muskaan Garg, contended that his original content on Instagram was unjustly targeted with false copyright complaints by John Doe/Ashok Kumar and others, leading to unwarranted account suspensions. The plaintiff claimed that these actions disrupted his professional activities as a content creator specializing in AI commentary and personal branding guidance.
The court acknowledged the urgency of the matter, exempting Shaikh from pre-litigation mediation under Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, while granting additional time to file documents under Order XI Rule 1(4) of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908. Furthermore, the court issued an ex-parte ad-interim injunction under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2 of the CPC, restraining the defendants from filing false copyright complaints against Shaikh's content.
The court has instructed Meta Platforms Inc. to conduct an internal review of Shaikh's Instagram account and, if found in order, to revoke the suspension. Additionally, the company must preserve the account for 180 days as stipulated by the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The decision marks a pivotal moment in addressing the misuse of digital platforms' copyright reporting mechanisms, ensuring that content creators' rights are protected against fraudulent claims. The case is set to continue with further legal proceedings scheduled for completion of pleadings and evidence marking in November 2026.
Bottom line:-
Plaintiff, a digital content creator, sought relief against misuse of copyright reporting systems by defendants, leading to suspension of his verified Instagram account. The court granted exemption from pre-litigation mediation and directed Meta Platforms Inc. (defendant No.2) to provide instructions regarding account suspension and furnish subscriber information for further legal action.
Statutory provision(s): Civil Procedure Code, 1908 Section 151, Civil Procedure Code, 1908 Order XI Rule 1(4), Commercial Courts Act, 2015 Section 12A, Civil Procedure Code, 1908 Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2, Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 Rule 3(1).
Mohammed Nawaz Shaikh v. John Doe/Ashok Kumar, (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc id # 2949381
