ANI drags Netflix to Delhi HC over copyright violations

Indian news agency ANI has filed a lawsuit against Netflix and the producers of the series, IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack, alleging unauthorized use of copyrighted content.

Last month, the streaming platform released the series on the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight 814, and drew flak over its portrayal of the hijackers’ identities.

The platform amended the six-episode series, adding disclaimers to clarify that the code names used were based on the actual event.

“They have used copyright archival footage of ANI without license, they have also used the (ANI) trademark,” Sidhant Kumar, ANI’s lawyer, told Reuters.

Kumar argued that the series’ critical reception “has tarnished” the Indian news agency’s “brand and reputation.”

ANI is now seeking removal of four episodes where its content has been used without proper authorization and has filed the lawsuit in the Delhi high court, which has agreed to hear the case and has sought a response from Netflix.

Netflix has not yet issued a public statement in response to the lawsuit.

The controversy surrounding the series has intensified since its debut.

Last week, Netflix’s content head, Monika Shergill, was summoned by India’s ministry of information and broadcasting to provide an explanation for the show’s alleged inaccuracies and deviations from the actual events.