Delhi High Court directs Google, Facebook, Twitter to remove defamatory videos against Amul

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed search engine Google and social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to remove defamatory and offending video uploaded by the admin of a vegan group called 'Activism for Animals', which alleged that diary brand Amul was indulging in cruelty to cows [Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation vs Rishabh Kaushal & Ors.]..Following Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation's apprehension that the disparaging and defamatory video was borne out of propaganda initiated by plant-based companies in a bid to promote products like almond and soy milk, Justice Pratibha Singh directed defendant Rishabh Kaushal to provide reasons as to why he shared such content."Utterly Butterly Murderous? Calling people murderous is not innocent. After meeting him, I feel like he's being helped. These posts are very derogatory and this is not an innocent act. Either he comes clean and tells us which individual or organisation paid him rather than taking the entire blame on himself and getting that deleted. You put up these videos but did you verify them once?" the single-judge demanded. The Court then ordered social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and search engine Google to remove the defamatory and offending content, within 36 hours of the receipt of the said URL details. The Court quizzed the young defendant, who claimed he was unemployed, as to whether or not he had received any money from anyone. However, the defendant resolutely refused this claim and said that he was an innocent animal lover who had set up a group called 'Activism for Animals' along with other 'like-minded' individuals with the sole intention of creating awareness and sensitising users on dairy cruelty.The Court was unconvinced by his response. .Appearing on behalf of Amul, advocate Abhishek Singh submitted that the defendants had initiated a malicious, slanderous campaign against the dairy brand that was defamatory and launched with the sole intention of creating bias, fear and psychosis in the minds of the public to give up Amul dairy products and instead shift to plant-based products like almond milk, soy milk, tofu, etc.Singh said that various well known advertisements and jingles of the brand were taken and edited with clippings of dairy animals being brutally tortured, with the ulterior motive of causing serious harm and injury to the highly reputed brand, Amul and it's well-known brand name and trademark.On the other hand, the defendant's counsel submitted that the boy had deleted the videos the minute he received a legal notice by Amul on June 9, 2021. She also submitted that he needs counselling, not punishment as he just wanted to create awareness after being inspired by some documentaries he saw on Netflix.While on oath, the defendant also said that after removing the video from social media, he had deactivated all his accounts and submitted that neither was he part of any organisation or association, nor did he receive any payment from any third party..Advocate Abhishek Singh appeared for the the plaintiff, Amul. Advocate Vasundhara Nagrath represented the defendants..Delhi High Court grants ex-parte interim injunction in favour of Amul in Trademark infringement suit