The beloved sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has found itself at the center of multiple controversies in recent years. In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court has issued a restraining order against various YouTube channels, websites, and social media accounts, prohibiting them from infringing on the intellectual property of the Asit Modi-produced show.
On August 14, Delhi High Court Justice Mini Pushkarna issued the order, which extends to unauthorized merchandise sales, character imitations, and the creation of AI-generated photos, deepfakes, and animated videos related to the show.
In her ruling, Justice Pushkarna stated, “An order of ex parte ad-interim injunction is passed, thereby restraining the defendant nos. 1 to 12 and 14 to 21, (including the John Doe parties), their owners, partners, proprietors, officers, servants, employees, and all others in the capacity of principal or agent, acting on their behalf or anyone claiming through, by, or under it…”
The order further clarified that these parties are prohibited from “in any manner, hosting, streaming, broadcasting, transmitting, exhibiting, making available for viewing and downloading, providing access to and communicating to the public, displaying, uploading, modifying, publishing, updating, sharing (including to its subscribers and users), offering for sale on their websites, through the internet, or in any manner or platform whatsoever, any content, goods, or services, that in any manner whatsoever amounts to infringement/passing off, of the plaintiff’s copyrighted material/registered trademarks, including, but not limited to, the title, the Characters, Format, and Underlying Materials in the said show, or anything else, which otherwise amounts to an infringement of the plaintiff’s Copyright/registered trademarks/passing off of the goods/services offered by the defendants.”
For those unfamiliar, Neela Film Productions, the production house behind Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, informed the High Court that they hold exclusive rights to the show’s title, characters, dialogues, and other intellectual property. They reported that various social media accounts, websites, and channels were violating these rights by selling unauthorized products and creating videos, animations, deepfakes, and even pornographic content using the show’s characters. Recognizing the strength of Neela Film Productions’ case, the Court granted the injunction.
In response to the court’s decision, the show’s producer, Asit Modi, expressed his gratitude. Speaking to Times Now News, Modi said, “This order sends a strong message that such infringements will not be tolerated. This order not only protects our creative efforts but also boosts the morale of everyone involved in the making of the show.”
This legal victory reinforces the protection of intellectual property rights, ensuring that Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah remains safeguarded from unauthorized use and exploitation.
