NEW DELHI: News agency Asian News International ( ANI ) has sued Netflix and the producers of 'IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack ' series for using the agency's footage without permission. It has asked for four episodes to be taken down from the six-episode show, adding that it's brand name was being "tarnished." "They have used copyright archival footage of ANI without licence, they have also used the (ANI) trademark," Sidhant Kumar, counsel for ANI told Reuters.
"Since the series has come into such criticism, our trademark and brandname is being tarnished," Kumar added. He also said that the Delhi high court is set to hear the case and has sought a response from the online streaming platform. The series, which is based on the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight 814 from Kathmandu in 1999, has sparked controversy after the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders criticised the makers for using "Hindu" names for the hijackers.
The IB ministry had summoned the Netflix India content head over the controversy, post which, the streaming platform added new disclaimers to the show. The makers, however, said that the code names used in the show by the hijackers were based on actual event. This was also confirmed by one of the passengers, Pooja Kataria, who was on the flight when it got hijacked in 1999.
"I don't know why people are making a controversy around the series. The series is based on a real event and the names of the hijackers -- Bhola and Shankar -- used in the series are also factual,".
