38.6c New Delhi, India, Thursday, October 23, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

Delhi HC Seeks Responses from Meta and Backgrid USA on TV Today's Suit Over Harper's Bazaar India Instagram Suspension

By Jhanak Sharma      23 May, 2024 04:04 PM      0 Comments
Delhi HC Seeks Responses from Meta and Backgrid USA on TV Todays Suit Over Harpers Bazaar India Instagram Suspension

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from Meta and US-based celebrity news agency Backgrid USA regarding a suit filed by TV Today seeking the restoration of Harper's Bazaar India's Instagram page.

Justice Anish Dayal issued notice and scheduled the next hearing for July 9. 

However, the Court stated that it could not issue ad hoc directions in the case.

"We cant pass an ad hoc order in this matter. We do not want to tread on the legal right in an ad hoc manner," the Court said.

The Court also noted that Harper's Bazaar cannot claim complete innocence in the matter.

"You cannot say you have not committed any sin. You can say I did not know it was a sin."

Advocate Hrishikesh Baruah, representing Harpers Bazaar, informed the Court that their Instagram page has nearly 7,000 posts, of which only three were found to be infringing, yet the entire account was suspended.

Baruah mentioned that they had attempted to negotiate with Backgrid to withdraw their copyright strikes, but Backgrid demanded "extortionist prices" for the photographs.

Advocate Tejas Karia, representing Meta, argued that the action against Harpers Bazaar was in accordance with the IT Rules and Metas policy. Karia stated that notices were issued to Harpers Bazaar before their account was taken down.

There is clear provision in the IT Rules for take down of the handles in case of copyright violation. Rule 3(1) says due diligence by the intermediary and an intermediary has the right to remove the copyrighted content. I have right under the Rules to terminate his account which I have exercised, he said.

Backgrid had made three copyright strikes against Harper's Bazaar India for allegedly using fifteen Halloween pictures without authorization.

After the Harper's Bazaar India Instagram page was suspended due to these strikes, TV Today initially filed a plea against Meta (which owns Instagram) before the High Court.

The High Court advised TV Today to approach the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) constituted under the Information Technology Rules for relief.

The GAC upheld Meta's decision to suspend the Harper's Bazaar India Instagram page.

Following this, TV Today filed a case against Backgrid before the Delhi High Court.

On May 21, the Court was informed that Harpers Bazaar had sourced fifteen photographs from fan pages and posted them on their platform, leading to a copyright strike by Backgrid, which resulted in the page's suspension.

TV Today argued that the use of the photographs constitutes fair use, but Backgrid demanded nearly USD 2,000 for each picture to revoke their strikes, even though they charge much less for normal use.

[Case Title: TV Today Network Limited & Anr v Backgrid USA Inc & Ors].



Share this article:

About:

Jhanak is a lawyer by profession and legal journalist by passion. She graduated at the top of her cl...Read more

Follow:
FacebookTwitterLinkedinInstagram


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

'Without documentary proof, Waqf Board can't lay claim over any property' 'Without documentary proof, Waqf Board can't lay claim over any property'

In 2012, the Anjuman Committee addressed a letter to the Chairman of the Waqf Board stating there is a wall and Chabutrah (platform) on a 'Tiranga Ki Qalandari Masjid where in olden times laborers used to offer prayers.

Delhi High Court Sets Aside Arbitral Tribunal's Award Against NHAI in Highway Project Delay Case [Read Judgment] Delhi High Court Sets Aside Arbitral Tribunal's Award Against NHAI in Highway Project Delay Case [Read Judgment]

The Delhi High Court sets aside an Arbitral Tribunal's award favoring IRB Pathankot Amritsar Toll Road Ltd over a delay in a highway project. The court finds that the tribunal did not address the essential dispute of whether the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was in material default, rendering the award invalid.

Delhi Court Rejects Stay Request in Defamation Case Against Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot [Read Order] Delhi Court Rejects Stay Request in Defamation Case Against Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot [Read Order]

A Delhi court refuses to stay the defamation case filed by Union Cabinet minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat against Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The court declined to stay the summons and sets a hearing date for August 19.

Delhi High Court to Commence Daily Hearings on August 28 for Appeals Against Acquittals in 2G Case Delhi High Court to Commence Daily Hearings on August 28 for Appeals Against Acquittals in 2G Case

Delhi High Court is set to begin day-to-day hearings from August 28 for appeals by CBI and ED against acquittals in the 2G spectrum allocation case, expressing displeasure over adjournment requests. The case involves former telecom minister A Raja and business entities. Learn about the proceedings and details of the case.

TRENDING NEWS


TOP STORIES

father-of-deceased-pilot-in-ahmedabad-crash-moves-sc-for-court-monitored-probe
Trending Judiciary
Father of deceased pilot in Ahmedabad crash moves SC for court monitored probe

91-year-old father of pilot killed in Ahmedabad Air India crash moves SC seeking court-monitored probe into alleged biased and flawed investigation.

17 October, 2025 10:54 AM
child-cant-consent-to-sex-life-imprisonment-upheld-for-sexual-assault-on-minor-girl-madras-hc
Trending Judiciary
Child Can’t Consent to Sex — Life Imprisonment Upheld for Sexual Assault on Minor Girl: Madras HC [Read Judgment]

Madras HC upholds life imprisonment for assault on minor SC girl, reiterating that a child cannot consent to sex; school records key for age proof.

17 October, 2025 11:45 AM
sc-criticizes-casual-declaration-of-witnesses-as-hostile-upholds-conviction-under-sc-st-act
Trending Judiciary
SC Criticizes Casual Declaration of Witnesses as Hostile, Upholds Conviction under SC/ST Act [Read Judgment]

Supreme Court slams casual practice of declaring witnesses hostile; upholds life imprisonment in SC/ST Act case involving rape of minor girl.

17 October, 2025 11:55 AM
delhi-hc-quashes-22-year-old-complaint-against-advocate-reiterates-that-a-lawyers-office-is-not-a-commercial-activity
Trending Judiciary
Delhi HC Quashes 22-Year Old Complaint Against Advocate, Reiterates That A Lawyer’s Office Is Not A Commercial Activity [Read Judgment]

Delhi HC quashes 22-year-old complaint against advocate, rules that a lawyer’s office is not a commercial activity under MDP 2001 and Building Bye-Laws.

17 October, 2025 01:42 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email