A Bengaluru civil court has granted a temporary injunction restraining social media platform X Corp and other online entities from hosting or disseminating targeted, derogatory content against the upcoming film The Paradise ahead of its worldwide theatrical release.

In an order passed on September 19, Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge observed that the film's producer, Sri Lakshmi Venkateshwara Cinemas LLP (plaintiff) has established a prima facie case, warranting an interim injunction.

This was after the producer flagged certain online material which the Court concluded had crossed the line of fair criticism.

“The documents produced indicate the propagation of derogatory statements which go beyond standard artistic evaluation and appear targeted to diminish the commercial value of the production,” the Court observed.

The order was passed in an application moved under the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) by the the plaintiff suit seeking permanent and mandatory injunction against X Corp and others.

The counsel for the plaintiff submitted that substantial investments were made in the production, marketing, and distribution of the movie, which is scheduled for theatrical release on September 24.

However, following the release of its trailer on August 6, systematically coordinated, false, and derogatory posts emerged on social media platforms to impair its commercial prospects.

Accepting the plea of extreme urgency, the Court dispensed with prior notice, noting that delay would cause irreversible economic and reputational injury.

Importantly, the Court clarified that the injunction is strictly confined to the specific URLs collated in the plaint schedule and does not hamper bona fide public reviews or genuine critique.

The Court directed the plaintiff to strictly comply with dispatching suit papers to the defendants within 24 hours, warning that failure to abide by procedural conditions would result in the injunction being vacated without further notice.

The matter will next be heard on October 28.