Ani Media Pvt. Ltd. Withdraws Suit Against Press Trust of India Ltd. Following Lawful Settlement Agreement
In a landmark decision, the Delhi High Court, presided over by Justice Jyoti Singh, has facilitated the withdrawal of a copyright infringement suit filed by Ani Media Pvt. Ltd. against Press Trust of India Ltd. The decision followed a lawful settlement agreement between the parties, marking an amicable resolution to the dispute.
The case, CS(COMM) 543 of 2024, involved claims of copyright infringement and damages, with Ani Media Pvt. Ltd., the plaintiff, seeking a decree for permanent and mandatory injunction against the defendants. The suit demanded the removal of allegedly infringing videos containing unauthorized reproductions of the plaintiff's copyrighted content. It further sought to restrain the defendants from exploiting any of the plaintiff’s original or copyrighted material, alongside other reliefs.
During the proceedings, the parties reached an amicable settlement, formalized in a settlement agreement dated November 20, 2025. The agreement was presented to the court through a joint application under Order XXIII Rule 3 read with Section 151 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908. The court, upon reviewing the terms of the settlement, deemed them lawful and proceeded to allow the plaintiff to withdraw the suit.
Justice Singh's order noted the settlement as lawful, thereby disposing of the application and recording the settlement between the parties. In accordance with the Court Fees Act, 1870, the court granted a full refund of the court fees to Ani Media Pvt. Ltd., further underscoring the equitable resolution of the matter.
This judgment not only signifies the importance of lawful settlements in intellectual property disputes but also highlights the judiciary's role in facilitating such resolutions. By enabling the withdrawal of the suit and refunding the court fees, the court has set a precedent for future cases involving similar disputes, encouraging parties to resolve their differences amicably.
The legal representatives involved in the case included Mr. Akshit Mago and Ms. Ekssha Kashyap for Ani Media Pvt. Ltd., while Mr. Sumit Nagpal, SPC, along with Ms. Kamna S. Nagpal, Mr. Tanmay Saini, Mr. Kunal K., and Mr. Sarthak Kapoor represented Press Trust of India Ltd.
This judgment reflects the court's commitment to uphold lawful settlements and ensure that the parties involved can move forward without further litigation, fostering a cooperative legal environment.
Bottom line:-
In a suit involving claims of copyright infringement and damages, withdrawal of the suit is permitted when the parties enter into a lawful settlement agreement. The plaintiff is entitled to a refund of the entire court fees upon withdrawal of the suit.
Statutory provision(s): Civil Procedure Code, 1908 Order XXIII Rule 3, Court Fees Act, 1870
Ani Media Pvt. Ltd. v. Press Trust of India Ltd., (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc id # 2891857
