Delhi High Court Directs Meta To Take Down Ads Using StoryTV Content To Promote Bullet App

The Delhi High Court has temporarily restrained the entities allegedly behind misleading online advertisements from using StoryTV's copyrighted content and marks to promote rival short-drama app Bullet.

Justice Tushar Rao Gedela passed the order on May 11, 2026, in a suit filed by Greenhorn Wellness Private Limited, which owns and operates StoryTV. The Court also directed Meta to immediately take down the identified infringing advertisements across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Threads, Audience Network, and other platforms under its control.

StoryTV said that since its launch in July 2025, it has become India's fastest-growing short-drama platform with over 3.7 crore installs and had topped the free app rankings on the Google Play Store.

The company said it has partnered with Ekta Kapoor, Balaji Telefilms, Applause Entertainment and Zee Entertainment, and owns or exclusively controls rights over several micro-drama titles, including Ameerzade Ka Badla, Jhaaduwala Crorepati and Khushiyon ka Badshah.

According to the company, it discovered in the first week of May that the operators of social media accounts branded as “Top Hindi Dramas” were running sponsored advertisements on Meta platforms using clips from StoryTV's shows along with its marks and “Install Now” or “See Details” buttons.

StoryTV alleged that users clicking these ads were redirected to the Bullet app or website, asked to make a ₹1 payment for a trial, and then automatically enrolled in a three-month subscription plan costing Rs 699, even though StoryTV's content was not available there.

After examining the material, the Court said StoryTV had made out a prima facie case.

“It appears that the defendant no.2 takes selective portions out of the plaintiff's copyright works and in some such infringing advertisements also prominently displays the StoryTV Marks accompanied by call-to-action buttons,” the Court said.

The Court further observed: “While the infringing advertisements display feature clips alongwith the StoryTV Marks of the plaintiff to lure the consumers/users, however, the moment the user is entrapped by making a nominal payment of Rs.1/-, the unsuspecting consumers are redirected to defendant no.1's Bullet Mobile Application on the Google play store operated by defendant no.4, or to the Bullet Website, which has no relation or nexus with the plaintiff. ”

The court said the entities behind the advertisements appeared to be using this method to gain unlawful financial benefit by exploiting StoryTV's content and goodwill. It held that the balance of convenience favoured StoryTV and that financial compensation alone would not be enough if the conduct continued.

The court restrained the entities behind the advertisements from using StoryTV's copyrighted works or its marks, or deceptively similar marks, in advertisements or digital campaigns. It also directed Meta to disclose details of those operating the social media accounts behind the advertisements and suspend or block those accounts.

The court further allowed StoryTV to alert Meta about any newly discovered infringing websites during the case, following which Meta must suspend or lock those domain registrations if supported by evidence.

During the hearing, counsel for Bullet said the company had no connection with the operators behind the advertisements and had neither authorised nor approved them.

The matter will next be heard by the Joint Registrar on August 11 and by the Court on October 13.