Court issues permanent injunction restraining RSY News from unauthorized use of ANI's original videos on YouTube; Google directed to remove infringing content from specified URLs
In a landmark decision dated September 29, 2026, the Delhi High Court has delivered a summary judgment in the copyright infringement suit filed by ANI Media Pvt. Ltd. against RSY News and Google LLC. ANI, a reputed multimedia news agency, accused RSY News of unauthorized reproduction and uploading of its original news videos on multiple YouTube channels owned by the defendant, thereby infringing its exclusive copyright under the Copyright Act, 1957.
The suit, registered as CS(COMM) 1018 of 2024, was adjudicated by Mr. Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, J., in the Intellectual Property Rights Division of the Delhi High Court. ANI Media sought permanent and mandatory injunctions, damages, and removal of infringing content. While Google LLC, as the intermediary platform owner of YouTube, appeared and filed its written statement, RSY News failed to respond or defend itself and was consequently proceeded against ex parte.
ANI presented compelling documentary evidence establishing its ownership of copyright in the original videos, which were professional news recordings made by its journalists and camera persons for valuable consideration under valid intellectual property assignment agreements. The defendant RSY News had uploaded twelve infringing videos reproducing the plaintiff's original content either wholly or substantially on its four YouTube channels-"RSY News," "RSY News UP," "RSY News Delhi," and "RSY News Bihar"-which collectively had more than four million subscribers.
Frame-by-frame comparisons revealed that the infringing videos retained ANI's logo and even the legend "Source: ANI," demonstrating wholesale copying. RSY News's only defense-a purported license from a third party, Swami Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.-was found to be baseless and unproven in court. The Court rejected the defense of fair dealing under Section 52(1)(a)(iii) of the Copyright Act, noting that the unauthorized use operated as a substitute for ANI's original works and was not trivial or incidental.
Applying the provisions of Order XIII-A of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, as incorporated by the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, and the Delhi High Court Intellectual Property Rights Division Rules, 2022, the Court held that RSY News had no real prospect of successfully defending the claim. The Court emphasized that summary judgment is appropriate in commercial intellectual property disputes where documentary evidence permits fair adjudication without the need for a full trial.
Accordingly, the Court granted a permanent and mandatory injunction against RSY News, restraining it and its representatives from reproducing, uploading, publishing, or distributing ANI's copyrighted videos or any other works without authorization. RSY News was directed to remove the identified infringing videos from all platforms, including its YouTube channels.
Google LLC was directed to take down, block, and disable access to the infringing videos at twelve specified URLs on the YouTube platform, confirming earlier interim orders. However, the Court declined ANI's prayers for a public apology and damages, holding that the injunction and removal directions sufficiently protected ANI's rights. ANI also withdrew its prayer for the deletion of all RSY News YouTube channels.
This judgment reinforces the protection of copyright owners' exclusive rights in the digital age and underscores the efficacy of summary judgment procedures in expeditiously resolving commercial intellectual property disputes.
Bottom Line:
Copyright - Summary judgment in commercial intellectual property suit - Unauthorised reproduction of plaintiff news agency's original videos on defendant's YouTube channels - Where contesting defendant remained ex parte, filed no written statement and documents stood deemed admitted, and documentary material clearly showed wholesale copying of plaintiff's cinematograph films - Defendant held to have no real prospect of successfully defending claim - Permanent and mandatory injunction granted against infringing uploader and specified take-down directions confirmed against intermediary platform - Relief for public apology and damages declined.
Statutory provision(s):
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 Order XIII-A, Commercial Courts Act, 2015, Delhi High Court Intellectual Property Rights Division Rules, 2022 Rule 27, Copyright Act, 1957 Sections 2(f), 14(d), 17, 51(a)(i), 52(1)(a)(iii), Information Technology Act, 2000 Section 2(1)(w)
ANI Media Pvt. Ltd. v. RSY News, (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2991112
