Delhi High Court orders blocking of websites with false articles on Anant Ambani interview with Anand Narasimhan

The Delhi High Court recently ordered the blocking of rogue websites containing false articles about an interview between Reliance Industries Director Anant Ambani and TV18 journalist Anand Narasimhan [Network 18 Media and Investments Limited & Ors v WWW.BrawlersFightClub.Com & Ors]..In an order passed on May 28, Justice Sanjeev Narula ordered Meta and X to block/remove the Facebook posts and tweets about the interview.Both the social media companies have been asked to file in sealed cover the complete details of the users who made the posts..The Court passed the order after CNBC TV18 and Narasimhan moved the High Court seeking the takedown of eight rogue websites containing a false article titled 'CNBC-TV18 management refuses to comment on the scandal surrounding its interview Vantara (star of the forest)'.Narasimhan had done an interview with Anant Ambani and the same was published on CNBC TV18’s YouTube channel. In the interview, Ambani talked about his various projects and his love for wildlife.However, the rogue websites published a fake and made-up interview. To lend it credibility, it was presented as if the BBC had published the piece.The article redirected to a cryptocurrency trading platform called Everix Edge, claiming that it helps in earning a passive income and offering astronomical returns.In the fake interview, Ambani allegedly claims that anyone can make money through passive income on the platform. The article quotes Ambani as claiming that anyone can register with Everix Edge with a minimum deposit of ₹26,000 and transform this amount into₹10,00,000, yielding a 4,000% return within a few months..CNBC TV18 argued that these rogue websites are infringing on its trademarks, violating the copyright of the interview, and even violating the personality rights of Narasimhan.The Court agreed with the argument and ordered the blocking of the websites..Advocate Saikrishna Rajagopal appeared for the plaintiffs. Advocate Apurv Narula was the Authorised representative of Network18 and TV18 along with POA holder for Anand Narisimah. Advocates Tejas Karia, Varun Pathak, Yash Karunakarun, Adya Joshi and Arunima Srivastava represented Meta.DNR GoDaddy was represented through Advocates Mrinal Ojha, Debarshi Datta and Tanya Chaudhury. .[Read Order]