Delhi High Court issues summons to 'People of India' in copyright infringement suit by 'Humans of Bombay'

The Delhi High Court has issued summons to an Instagram handle called ‘People of India’ in a copyright infringement suit filed by storytelling platform ‘Humans of Bombay’ [Humans of Bombay Stories Pvt Ltd v. POI Social Media Pvt Ltd]..Justice Prathiba M Singh also issued notice to ‘People of India’ on the interim relief application filed by ‘Humans of Bombay’ to restrain the former from using its copyrighted content.“In this view of the matter, issue notice to the Defendants. In addition, intimation be issued by the Plaintiff’s counsel through e-mail… Notice be also issued by the Registry through e-mail to the Defendants that on the next date of hearing, the interim application shall be considered for ad interim relief,” the Court ordered.Counsel for Humans of Bombay argued that the High Court would have jurisdiction to hear the suit since a number of subjects who were being interviewed by People of India are based out of Delhi.Justice Singh called for an affidavit to this effect to be placed on record within one week, and posted the matter for hearing on October 11..Humans of Bombay approached the High Court stating that its content, literary works, materials, films and creative work published on its website as well as its Instagram handle and YouTube channel are being replicated by ‘People of India’.It contended that it engages in substantial research and approaches various subjects who are interested in narrating their life stories. The said stories are then converted into audio-video works and uploaded on the website and on the above stated platforms.The Court was told that People of India completely replicated their business model and are approaching the very same subjects shown on the Humans of Bombay website..Justice Singh noted that prima facie, there is substantial imitation and in some cases, the images are identical or imitative.Therefore, the Court issued notices and summons on the suit..Advocates Abhishek Malhotra, Shilpa Gamnani and Ishita Goel appeared for Humans of Bombay..[Read Order]