Court in Bombay Orders Temporary Restraint on Meta Platforms: Video featuring Patanjali Foods Limited's trademark MAHAKOSH prohibited from circulation on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.
In a significant turn of events, the Bombay High Court has granted a temporary injunction in favour of Patanjali Foods Limited, restraining Meta Platforms and Defendant No. 3 from infringing upon the company's registered trademarks, including 'MAHAKOSH FUTURE FIT'.
The case, Patanjali Foods Limited vs. Meta Platforms Inc & Ors. Commercial IP Suit (Lodging No. 12374 of 2023), was initiated due to a video circulating on Facebook containing disparaging remarks against Patanjali Foods Limited's product MAHAKOSH. The plaintiffs claimed that the videos infringed their trademark and spread misleading and false information about their product.
Patanjali Foods Limited, the registered proprietor of the mark MAHAKOSH for edible oils, issued cease and desist notices to Meta Platforms in April 2023 and requested the deletion of the video. However, the Defendants failed to respond, leading to a John Doe action against Defendant No. 3.
The Court directed Meta Platforms to take down the URLs of the Impugned video within 36 hours and to disclose all associated user details. The plaintiffs were also granted leave to report any future deepfake content. This order underscores the judiciary's proactive stance on protecting individuals from deepfake and synthetic media impersonations.
Regarding the John Doe action against Defendant No. 3, explicit details were not found in the latest search results. However, the mention of Meta being required to disclose user details and the granting of leave to report future deepfakes suggests that the court is enabling plaintiffs to pursue unidentified defendants linked to the creation or dissemination of infringing content, which is typical of John Doe actions to identify unknown parties behind alleged violations.
The Court's ad-interim relief is to be operated against Meta Platforms and Defendant No. 3. The learned Counsel for Google objected to the grant of the relief, but Google is not subject to the granted relief against the Impugned video. The application has been listed for further consideration on 27 June, 2023.
This case highlights the growing need for social media platforms like Meta to respond swiftly to takedown requests and ensure accountability in digital content management. It represents a significant legal precedent in digital impersonation and AI-generated fraudulent content, reflecting enhanced judicial oversight and regulatory involvement in digital content safety.
[1] Source: Bombay High Court order dated 10 May, 2023, available at this link: [Insert Link to Court Order]
- In light of the court's decision, Patanjali Foods Limited might need to consider seeking legal action against Meta Platforms not only for the infringement of the trademark 'MAHAKOSH FUTURE FIT' but also potentially for wider business and financial damages caused by the spread of misleading and false information.
- The significance of this case extends beyond the specific trademark dispute, as it emphasizes the increasing role of technology in business, particularly the need for social media platforms to implement effective strategies for managing digital content, to prevent potential risks associated with deepfakes and AI-generated fraudulent content.
