Urmi Juvekar Chiang v. Global Broadcast News Ltd. & Anr.
(2008) 2 Bom CR 400; (2007) 6 AIR Bom R 240]
Coram: Single Bench comprising of Hon’ble Justice Khanwilkar A.M.
Forum: Hon’ble Bombay High Court
Case No.: Suit (Lodging) No.1467 OF 2007
Date of Decision: June 7, 2007
Conclusion
Facts
- Urmi Juvekar Chiang( the Plaintiff), a noted script writer residing in Mumbai created a reality TV program called “Work in Progress” in 2005, about citizen activism and solving civic problems.
- The Plaintiff put down this idea in a written concept note and subsequently a production plan and was registered with the Film Writer’s Association Mumbai on 9th November 2005.
- She also presented it to representatives of an Indian satellite TV channel named CNN-IBN (owned by Global Broadcast News Ltd) in March 2006. There was some negotiation initially and thereafter, the Defendant stopped responding to the Plaintiff’s emails. CNN-IBN created and broadcast its own TV programme titled “Summer Showdown” which was similar to Chiang’s format.
- The Plaintiff alleged that the basic idea and concept of the Plaintiff’s show had been copied by the Defendants in order to form their own show , which was a form of copyright infringement and a breach of confidentiality by the Defendants.
Main Issue:
- Whether there was an infringement of the copyright of the Plaintiff?
- Whether there was a breach of confidentiality by the Defendants?
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