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HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Date of Decision: 20th November, 2023
LIVING MEDIA INDIA LIMITED & ANR. ..... Plaintiffs
Through: Mr. Rahul Beruar, Ms. Jyotsana Sinha, Advs. (M. 9910044787)
Through: Ms. Shweta Sahu, Mr. Alipak Banerjee & Mr. Brijesh Ujjainwal, Advs. for D-3
JUDGMENT
1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.
2. The present suit relates to various domain names and other online media usage of the mark ‘AAJ TAK’, ‘AB TAK’ and various other similar marks/names to that of the Plaintiff’s mark/name ‘AAJ TAK’.
3. The mark ‘AAJ TAK’ has been repeatedly protected in various proceedings. In the present suit, vide order dated 24th September, 2020, an ex parte injunction was granted against the use of the domain names www.newsaajtak.co.in, www.aajtaknewsdaily.com, www.newsaajtaklive.com and www.aajtakreport.com.
4. Further domain names were also included and the injunction order dated 24th September, 2020 was also extended to the said domain names vide order dated 6th September, 2021 read with order dated 17th September, 2021.
5. The Plaintiffs have also impleaded numerous Domain Name Registrars (DNRs) and other platforms where the infringing use of the name ‘AAJ TAK’, including its content, was observed. During the pendency of this suit, all the domain names and other instances of infringing use of the Plaintiffs’ mark at the following links has been either removed or disabled. A complete status report dated 20th November 2023 as handed over by the ld. Counsel for the Plaintiffs is set out below:
1. Defendant No. 1 NewsAajTak - Website - Facebook profile - Twitter profile www.news-aajtak.co.in https://www.facebook.com/Newsaajtakonline/ https://twitter.com/mpcgnewsaajtak Website, Twitter and Facebook profile disabled.
2. Defendant No. 2 AAJTAK NEWS DAILY - Websites www.aajtaknewsdaily.com D2’s new website – www.aajtaknewsdaily.in (I.A. NO. 3065/2021 under O39 R2A pending) Website disabled. D2’s new website shows this message. Whois says – not been registered yet.
3. Defendant No. 4 Newsaajtakliv e - Website profile www.newsaajtaklive.com Website and YouTube channel disabled. - YouTube channel https://www.facebook.com/NEWSAAJTAKLIVENT W/?ref=page_internal https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxaDLaOlAUoK _gJmP4uGrYg Facebook profile now disabled..
4. Defendant No. 6 Aaj Tak Report - Website www.aajtakreport.com Website, Facebook profile and profile - Instagram profile https://www.facebook.com/Aaj-Tak-Report- %E0%A4%86%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%A4%E0%A[4] %95- %E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A 4%9A%E0%A4%B0-101803404936371/ https://www.instagram.com/aajtakreport/ disabled.
5. Defendant No. 9 Aaj Tak Live - Websit e www.aajtaklive.in Website disabled. first with Def.[3] (GoDaddy ) and now with Def.16 (Hosting Concepts B.V.)
6. 10 Aaj Tak India News - Website profile - YouTube channel www.aajtakindianews.com https://www.facebook.com/aajtakindianews1/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-5jrJioIW- 5ZDB5QUfSlsA/featured Website, Facebook Profile and
7. 11 E Aaj Tak - YouTube channel - Twitter profile www.eaajtak.com https://www.facebook.com/eaajtaknews https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbwVcvsdtX5DC 83Wznep39w/featured Domain name seems inactive. Website can’t be reached. Facebook Profile disabled. YouTube channel renamed and content removed. Twitter profile active. https://twitter.com/eaajtak?lang=en
8. Defendant No. 12 Zulm aajtak - Twitter profile https://www.zulmaajtak.page/ https://www.facebook.com/Zulm-Aaj-Tak-news- 336152670373535/?ti=as Website, Facebook https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4p8mpWHOa[4] OKdKGCDVKZnA/featured https://twitter.com/zulmaajtak00
9. Defendant No. 14 Aaj Tak Hind - Website profile www.aajtakhind.com Website and Instagram profile disabled. - Twitter profile https://www.instagram.com/aajtakhind https://twitter.com/aajtakhind094
10. Defendant No. 15 Aaj Tak org. - Websit e https://aajtak.org.in/ Access to website denied.
11. Defendant No. 17 Aaj Tak Solapur - Twitter profile profile www.aajtaksolapur.in https://www.facebook.com/AajTakSolapur/?ref=page_ internal https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRQv4PNjGxOP Wgm7wc6GwTg Website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram https://twitter.com/aajtaksolapur?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/aajtak_solapur/?hl=en,
12. Defendant No. 18 Digital Aaj Tak profile https://www.facebook.com/Digitalaajtak/?ref=page_int ernal Disabled.
13. Defendant No. 19 Bharat Ab Tak News profile https://www.facebook.com/bharatabtaknews/ Disabled.
14. Defendant No. 20 Aaj Tak News profile https://www.facebook.com/newzifyofficial/?ref=br_rs Disabled.
15. Defendant No. 21 Official profile https://www.facebook.com/Aaj-Tak-News-Official- 675416789301363/?ref=br_rs Disabled.
16. Defendant No. 22 Live Samachar profile https://www.facebook.com/livesamachaar/?ref=page_i nternal https://www.facebook.com/livesamachaar/photos/pb.[1] 0006449432022[5].- 2207520000./913114392127210/?type=3 2207520000./922041514567831/?type=3 Facebook profile disabled. 2207520000./917101765061806/?type=3
17. Defendant No. 23 profile https://www.facebook.com/Aaj-TaK-News- 419173384920351/?ref=br_rs Disabled.
18. Defendant No. 24 Aap Tak profile https://www.facebook.com/Aap-tak- 113070007053994/?ref=br_rs Disabled.
19. Defendant No. 25 Araria Aaj Tak profile https://www.facebook.com/Araria-AajTak- 338544463242779/ Disabled.
20. Defendant No. 27 Jahanabad - YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFsowQfxB0zZD Czm-ZJLbsQ/featured Disabled.
21. Defendant No. 28. - YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPXd08FsF2OD 8a5eIfCTVA/featured Disabled.
22. Defendant No. 29. MP Aaj Tak - YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6IXoyHzqHtR[9] We7D4iYSBA/featured Disabled.
23. Defendant No. 30 Only Aaj Tak - YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB4PGmInXtrcc OMWs4asc8Q Disabled.
24. Defendant No. 31 Aaj Tak Hindi - YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5M6f4bVqMgF KWYpg-qrv9A Disabled.
25. Defendant No. 32 Hindustan Aaj Tak - YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvvcSxwbn1gyjb 8DgVPsUZQ Disabled.
26. Defendant No. 33 AAJ TAK PK - YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/AAJTAKPK/featured Disabled.
27. Defendant No. 34 Sanchar Aajtak News - YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq66W9tGCoxg[2] 5kmAVHmBLA Disabled.
28. Defendant No. 35 M.आजतक (M. Aajtak) - YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmYmZL_Dm_Kf9Zx8XfIrA Disabled.
29. Defendant No. 36 Aaj Tak Haryana - YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLOK8uyf8q1mn SqpAv9nMoA Disabled.
6. Even Defendant No. 16- Hosting Concepts B.V. is stated to have complied with the order of suspension. Vide affidavit dated 25th July 2023, the authorised signatory of Defendant No. 16 has deposed as under:
7. In view of the above status report indicating that the use of the mark ‘AAJ TAK’ has been disabled on all channels, and the domain names have been either suspended, locked or blocked, the suit shall stand decreed against the Defendant Nos. 1, 2, 4, 9 to 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20 to 25 and 27 to 37. The said Defendants are permanently restraining from using the mark ‘AAJ TAK’ or any other deceptively similar or identical mark, in any manner whatsoever for media, news, entertainment, or any other similar services.
8. Insofar as the DNRs are concerned, the DNRs/the platforms including YouTube and Facebook shall continue keeping the infringing account disabled. It is submitted by Ms. Shweta Sahu, ld. Counsel that some domain names have already expired and already have been released. This statement is taken on record and if any domain names have been so released and subsequently registered through any other DNR, the DNR in the present suit would no longer be responsible.
9. The application under Order XXXIX Rule 2A CPC being I.A 3065/2021 is no longer pressed and is accordingly disposed of.
10. The suit is decreed in the above terms. Let the decree sheet be drawn up. All pending applications are also disposed of.
PRATHIBA M. SINGH JUDGE NOVEMBER 20, 2023 Rahul/dn