Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. v. Gajendra Singh & Ors.
[2007 SCC Online Bom 920; (2007) 6 Bom CR 700]
Coram: Single Bench comprising Hon’ble Justice S.J. Vazifdar
Forum: Hon’ble Bombay High Court.
Case No.: Notice of Motion No. 1648 of 2007 in Suit No. 1253 of 2007.
Date of Decision: October 8, 2007.

Facts:

  • A famous television reality show producer Gajendra Singh (Defendant) during his employment with Zee Entertainment (Plaintiff) originated the format of a television game show titled ‘Antakshari Saregama’.
  • The Defendant was accused of copying the Plaintiff’s game show in all material respects without a license or valid authorization for the show ‘Antakshari: The Great Challenge,’ which was broadcast on Star One.
  • Plaintiff sought an order to restrain the Defendants from producing and broadcasting the TV game show “Antakshari - The Great Challenge” and from using the content, presentation, and the term “Antakshari” in any TV game show.
  • Defendant No. 2 was Ms. Karuna Raju Samtani and Defendant No. 3 was Star (India) Limited.
  • The suit was filed for a perpetual injunction to restrain the Defendants from infringing the Plaintiff’s copyright in the literary work and cinematograph film of the TV game show “Titan Antakshari.”The show had been broadcast on the television channel “Zee” since September 1993.
  • The Plaintiff sought damages and requested an order for the delivery and destruction of the infringing material.

Main Issue:

Is a ‘concept note’ or a ‘brief description’ of an idea entitled to copyright protection?