Delhi High Court Issues Notice On Times Now Suit Against Network18, Sushant Sinha Over 'Desh Ki Paatshala'

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice on a suit filed by Bennett Coleman and Company Limited, which runs the Times Now Navbharat news channel, against Network18 Media and Investments Limited and journalist Sushant Sinha, alleging copyright and trademark infringement over the show 'Desh Ki Paatshala.'

Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani declined to pass an ad-interim injunction at this stage.

Observing that the defendants had entered an appearance on caveat, the court said they were entitled to file a reply before any interim order could be considered.

Summons have also been issued in the suit.

According to the plaintiff, Sinha worked with Times Now for nearly five years and anchored its show 'News Ki Paatshala' now hosted by journalist Rubika Liyaquat.

After joining Network18, he launched Desh Ki Paatshala. Bennett Coleman alleges that the new show copies the format, segment structure, visual arrangement and overall expression of its programme.

Counsel for Times Now submitted that Network18 released a teaser announcing the show after it issued a legal notice on June 15. Despite receiving the notice, the defendants launched the show on June 16.

They replied on June 23, contending that the word "Patshala" was in common use and that the plaintiff had no exclusive right over it.

Counsel argued that the dispute was not one of a stranger copying a format, but of a former anchor "who I trusted for five years" walking away to recreate the program for a competitor.

"I am not here against a stranger. He is my man. Who I trusted for five years," counsel submitted. He added that Sinha had "walked away with the entire thing" to set up a competing program. " I built him up, actually. He was nobody when he walked into my studio in 2021," he added.

Counsel further argued that the show's introduction, synopsis, revision segment and concluding quiz had all been copied "in the same format". He also pointed to similarities in the use of classroom imagery, digital blackboards, and the arrangement of the programme's segments. According to counsel, "there is nothing left" that distinguished the two programmes.

On the copyright claim, counsel argued that the plaintiff was not claiming exclusivity over the idea of a classroom-style news programme, but over its expression.

Relying on the Supreme Court's decision in R.G. Anand, he submitted that "there is no copyright in an idea" and that copyright protects the "form, manner, arrangement, and expression" of a work. He argued that those elements had been copied by the defendants.

Counsel appearing for News 18 referred to an earlier suit filed by the plaintiff against the same parties seeking similar relief. He pointed out that no interim order had been granted in that case. He also referred to instances of "Patshala" being used for market- and rupee-related programs. He argued that the plaintiff could not claim exclusivity over the word.

Accepting that the defendants should first be heard, the court observed, "This requires a reply and then a decision." It granted the defendants ten days to file their reply, followed by a rejoinder.

The matter has been listed before the Joint Registrar on October 13. The parties have also been directed to file written synopses five days before the next hearing before the Court on August 25.