The Delhi High Court has restrained the unauthorised use of name, characters and content of popular TV show . The makers of the show, which was stated to have been on air for over 16 years with approximately 4,000 episodes, alleged that several entities were using its names, images of characters, etc, for commercial gains by running websites, selling merchandise and even publishing "sexually explicit and vulgar" videos on YouTube. .
In an interim order passed against several known and unknown entities on a lawsuit by show's producer, Justice Mini Pushkarna said if the ex-parte ad interim injunction is not granted, the plaintiff will suffer an irreparable loss. The plaintiff, Neela Film Productions Pvt Ltd, said it has statutory rights over several registered trademarks in India pertaining to their show and its characters, some of its trademarks being , , Taarak Mehta, Jethaalal, Gokuldhaam, etc. The court was informed that while the plaintiff enjoys copyright of its various characters and animations, some entities were unauthorisedly selling merchandise such as T-shirts, posters and stickers bearing the images and dialogues of characters from the show, through websites and e-commerce platforms.
It was also claimed that there was content generated through use of artificial intelligence or deep fakes of characters as well as video games. . "An order of ex parte ad-interim injunction is passed thereby restraining the defendant nos.
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