Full Judgment Text
$~20
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
th
Date of decision: 20 November, 2023
+ CS(COMM) 395/2020, I.As. 8516/2020 & 3065/2021
LIVING MEDIA INDIA LIMITED & ANR. ..... Plaintiffs
Through: Mr. Rahul Beruar, Ms. Jyotsana
Sinha , Advs. (M. 9910044787 )
versus
WWW.NEWS-AAJTAK.CO.IN & ORS. ..... Defendants
Through: Ms. Shweta Sahu, Mr. Alipak
Banerjee & Mr. Brijesh Ujjainwal,
Advs. for D-3
CORAM:
JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH
Prathiba M. Singh, J. (Oral)
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.news-
aajtak.co.in , www.aajtaknewsdaily.com , www.newsaajtaklive.com and
www.aajtakreport.com .
4. Further domain names were also included and the injunction order
th
dated 24 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
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 1 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
(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
th
report dated 20 November 2023 as handed over by the ld. Counsel for the
Plaintiffs is set out below:
S.
No.
Defendant
No.
Infringing
website/
profile/
channel.
Screenshots from weblinks
Updated status as on 20.11.2023
Status
1. Defendant
No. 1
NewsAajTak
www.news-aajtak.co.in
Website,
and
profile
disabled.
- Website
profile
profile
https://www.facebook.com/Newsaajtakonline/
https://twitter.com/mpcgnewsaajtak
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 2 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
2. Defendant
No. 2
AAJTAK
NEWS
DAILY
www.aajtaknewsdaily.com
Website
disabled.
D2’s new
website
shows this
message.
Whois
says – not
been
registered
yet.
- Websites
D2’s new website – www.aajtaknewsdaily.in (I.A. No.
3065/2021 under O39 R2A pending)
3. Defendant
No. 4
Newsaajtakliv
e
www.newsaajtaklive.com
Website
and
YouTube
channel
disabled.
- Website
profile
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 3 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
- YouTube
channel
profile
now
disabled.
.
https://www.facebook.com/NEWSAAJTAKLIVENT
W/?ref=page_internal
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxaDLaOlAUoK
_gJmP4uGrYg
4. Defendant
No. 6
Aaj Tak
Report
www.aajtakreport.com
Website,
profile and
profile
- Website
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 4 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
profile
profile
disabled.
https://www.facebook.com/Aaj-Tak-Report-
%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4
%95-
%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A
4%9A%E0%A4%B0-101803404936371/
https://www.instagram.com/aajtakreport/
5. Defendant
No. 9
Aaj Tak Live
www.aajtaklive.in
Website
disabled.
Domain
- Websit
e
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 5 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
first
registered
with Def.3
(GoDaddy
) and now
registered
with
Def.16
(Hosting
Concepts
B.V.)
6. 10 Aaj Tak India
News
- Website
profile
- YouTube
channel
www.aajtakindianews.com
Website,
Profile and
YouTube
channel
disabled.
https://www.facebook.com/aajtakindianews1/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-5jrJioIW-
5ZDB5QUfSlsA/featured
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 6 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
7. 11 E Aaj Tak
www.eaajtak.com
Domain
name
seems
inactive.
Website
can’t be
reached.
Profile
disabled.
YouTube
channel
renamed
and
content
removed.
profile
active.
- Website
profile
- YouTube
channel
profile
https://www.facebook.com/eaajtaknews
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbwVcvsdtX5DC
83Wznep39w/featured
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 7 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
https://twitter.com/eaajtak?lang=en
8. Defendant
No. 12
Zulm aajtak
https://www.zulmaajtak.page/
Website,
profile and
YouTube
channel
disabled.
profile
active.
- Website
profile
- YouTube
channel
profile
https://www.facebook.com/Zulm-Aaj-Tak-news-
336152670373535/?ti=as
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 8 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4p8mpWHOa4
OKdKGCDVKZnA/featured
https://twitter.com/zulmaajtak00
9. Defendant
No. 14
Aaj Tak Hind
www.aajtakhind.com Website
and
profile
disabled.
- Website
profile
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 9 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
profile
profile
active.
https://www.instagram.com/aajtakhind
https://twitter.com/aajtakhind094
10. Defendant
No. 15
Aaj Tak org.
https://aajtak.org.in/
Access to
website
denied.
- Websit
e
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 10 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
11. Defendant
No. 17
Aaj Tak
Solapur
www.aajtaksolapur.in
Website,
Facebook,
and
profile and
YouTube
channel
disabled.
- Website
profile
- YouTube
channel
profile
profile
https://www.facebook.com/AajTakSolapur/?ref=page_
internal
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRQv4PNjGxOP
Wgm7wc6GwTg
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 11 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
https://twitter.com/aajtaksolapur?lang=en
https://www.instagram.com/aajtak_solapur/?hl=en ,
12. Defendant
No. 18
Digital Aaj
Tak
https://www.facebook.com/Digitalaajtak/?ref=page_int
ernal
Disabled.
profile
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 12 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
13. Defendant
No. 19
Bharat Ab Tak
News
https://www.facebook.com/bharatabtaknews/ Disabled.
profile
14. Defendant
No. 20
Aaj Tak News
https://www.facebook.com/newzifyofficial/?ref=br_rs
Disabled.
profile
15. Defendant
No. 21
Aaj Tak News
Official
https://www.facebook.com/Aaj-Tak-News-Official-
675416789301363/?ref=br_rs
Disabled.
profile
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 13 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
16. Defendant
No. 22
Live Samachar
https://www.facebook.com/livesamachaar/?ref=page_i
nternal
profile
disabled.
profile
https://www.facebook.com/livesamachaar/photos/pb.1
00064494320225.-
2207520000./913114392127210/?type=3
https://www.facebook.com/livesamachaar/photos/pb.1
00064494320225.-
2207520000./922041514567831/?type=3
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 14 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
https://www.facebook.com/livesamachaar/photos/pb.1
00064494320225.-
2207520000./917101765061806/?type=3
17. Defendant
No. 23
Aaj Tak News
https://www.facebook.com/Aaj-TaK-News-
419173384920351/?ref=br_rs
Disabled.
profile
18. Defendant
No. 24
Aap Tak
https://www.facebook.com/Aap-tak-
113070007053994/?ref=br_rs
Disabled.
profile
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 15 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
19. Defendant
No. 25
Araria Aaj Tak
https://www.facebook.com/Araria-AajTak-
338544463242779/
Disabled.
profile
20. Defendant
No. 27
Aaj Tak News
Jahanabad
Disabled.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFsowQfxB0zZD
Czm-ZJLbsQ/featured
- YouTube
channel
21. Defendant
No. 28.
Aaj Tak News
Disabled.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPXd08FsF2OD
8a5eIfCTVA/featured
- YouTube
channel
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 16 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
22. Defendant
MP Aaj Tak
No. 29.
Disabled.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6IXoyHzqHtR9
We7D4iYSBA/featured
- YouTube
channel
23. Defendant
No. 30
Only Aaj Tak
Disabled.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB4PGmInXtrcc
OMWs4asc8Q
- YouTube
channel
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 17 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
24. Defendant
No. 31
Aaj Tak Hindi
Disabled.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5M6f4bVqMgF
KWYpg-qrv9A
- YouTube
channel
25. Defendant
No. 32
Hindustan Aaj
Tak
Disabled.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvvcSxwbn1gyjb
8DgVPsUZQ
- YouTube
channel
26. Defendant
No. 33
AAJ TAK PK
- YouTube
channel
Disabled.
https://www.youtube.com/c/AAJTAKPK/featured
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 18 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
27. Defendant
No. 34
Sanchar
Aajtak News
- YouTube
channel
Disabled.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq66W9tGCoxg2
5kmAVHmBLA
28. Defendant
M. आजतक
No. 35
Disabled.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmY-
mZL_Dm_Kf9Zx8XfIrA
(M. Aajtak)
- YouTube
channel
29. Defendant
No. 36
Aaj Tak
Haryana
Disabled.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLOK8uyf8q1mn
SqpAv9nMoA
- YouTube
channel
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 19 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
6. Even Defendant No. 16- Hosting Concepts B.V. is stated to have
th
complied with the order of suspension. Vide affidavit dated 25 July 2023,
the authorised signatory of Defendant No. 16 has deposed as under:
“4. On becoming aware of these orders, Hosting
Concepts immediately acted upon them by: (i)
suspending the domain names 'aajtaklive.in' and '
aajtak.org.in'; and (ii) sending an email dated
July 19, 2023 to the Plaintiff’s counsel, informing
them of the suspension of the two domain names.
A copy of the email dated July 19, 2023 sent by
Hosting Concepts to the Plaintiff's counsel is
annexed herewith and marked as Document-2. A
copy of the WHO IS details of the domain names
aajtaklive.in and aajtak.org.in, showing that these
domains have been suspended, is annexed herewith
and marked as Document-3”
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.
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 20 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48
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
Signature Not Verified
CS(COMM) 395/2020 Page 21 of 21
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:23.11.2023
12:57:48