Rediff.com India Ltd. v. E-Eighteen.com Ltd
[(2013) 202 DLT 657, (2013) 55 PTC 294]
Corum: Single Judge Bench comprising of Justice Vipin Sanghi.
Forum: Hon’ble High Court Delhi
Case No.: C.S. (OS) No.1115/2008
Date of Decision: July 22, 2013

Facts:

  • Rediff.com India Ltd. was an online media company founded in 1996, providing news, communication, entertainment, stock market analysis, and shopping services worldwide through its website www.rediff.com.
  • E-Eighteen.com Ltd. operated the website www.moneycontrol.com, a personal finance portal.
  • The Plaintiff alleged that the Defendant infringed its copyright and passed off its work as its own by displaying a deceptively similar "Mutual Fund Meter" on its website, which was similar to the Plaintiff's "Rediff Moneywiz.".
  • The Plaintiff filed a suit for infringement of their copyright in the work "HOW HOT IS THIS STOCK." They sought a permanent injunction against the Defendants from using or selling the work without authorization, along with damages of Rs.20,00,000 for infringement and passing off, and an order for rendition of accounts of profits earned by the Defendants.

Main Issue

Whether the Plaintiff’s copyright in the literary-cum-artistic artwork as enumerated in Section 14 of the Copyright Act, 1957 had been infringed by the Defendant Company?