[Copyright suit by Zee] Will not broadcast Aap Ki Adalat episodes shot between 1992 and 1997: Rajat Sharma to Delhi High Court

Journalist Rajat Sharma and his news channel India TV have given an undertaking before the Delhi High Court that they will not broadcast the episodes of popular show ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ shot between 1992 to 1997 since they were produced by Zee [Zee Media Corporation Ltd v Rajat Sharma & Anr]..Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi appearing for Sharma and India TV and said that if, during telecast of any other news, the interviews are referred to and some short clips of the programmes are shown, those too will be taken down as and when pointed out by Zee..Single-judge Justice Jyoti Singh noted down the submissions and asked Sethi to file a short affidavit to that effect. .Zee media – owner of news channels Zee News and Zee Hindustan – has sued Sharma and India TV for copyright infringement..Zee had also moved a contempt application in the court stating that despite a clear undertaking by Sharma and India TV that the link to the interview with former Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has been taken down, the same was visible on platforms like YouTube.Senior Advocate Joy Basu, appearing for Zee, stated that this link had been given in the suit yet it continued to work for days despite the undertaking and that it was only when the contempt application was served that it was taken down..However, Sethi argued that they had removed one link but later it turned out that there were more.As soon as they (Zee) pointed it out, the other link was removed as well, he told the court..The Court then listed the case for further consideration on September 28..In its suit, Zee has argued that during the political turmoil in Maharashtra on June 25 and June 26, India TV broadcast a 1993 episode of ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ with Thackeray which was originally produced and telecast by Zee TV.Zee has also sought an injunction against Sharma and India TV from broadcasting nearly 140 other episodes of the show.It has said that it owns the copyright for the episodes of the show produced between 1992-1997 when Sharma was working with Zee..Trust Legal represented Zee Media through Partner Ritwika Nanda and Associate Partner Rupali Gupta. They were led by Senior Advocate Joy Basu. Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi and advocate Prabhas Bajaj appeared for Rajat Sharma and Zee. .Zee sues Rajat Sharma and India TV for telecasting 1993 episode of Aap Ki Adalat with Bal Thackrey.Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.