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ARTICLE · 01 AUGUST 2025

Striking Balance Between Copyright Infringement And Free Speech

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The Delhi High Court (‘DHC'), recently in the case of ANI Media Pvt Ltd v. Mohak Mangal & Ors., examined the interplay between copyright and trademark infringement, defamation...

IndiaIntellectual Property
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The Delhi High Court ('DHC'), recently in the case of ANI Media Pvt Ltd v. Mohak Mangal & Ors.,1 examined the interplay between copyright and trademark infringement, defamation, fair dealing and right to free speech. The dispute arose after YouTuber Mohak Mangal published a video criticising ANI's copyright strike practices on the YouTube platform, alleging that ANI was misusing YouTube's 'three-strike' policy to pressure creators into purchasing expensive subscriptions in exchange of removing the copyright strike. ANI responded with a defamation suit, seeking removal of allegedly disparaging content as well as alleged trademark infringement.

The DHC in its Order dated May 29, 2025, directed Mohak Mangal to place the impugned video in private mode and remove specific objectionable portions of the impugned video, including portions where terms such as 'hafta vasooli' and 'gunda raaj', were used, before reposting the video. The DHC also ordered the takedown of

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