Defendants Restrained from Infringing Copyrights and Trademarks of Greenhorn Wellness' StoryTV Platform
In a landmark judgment delivered by the Delhi High Court on May 29, 2026, Justice Jyoti Singh granted an interim injunction in favor of Greenhorn Wellness Private Limited, effectively restraining multiple defendants, including John Doe entities, from infringing upon the copyrights and trademarks associated with Greenhorn's popular digital content platform, StoryTV. The court's decision is a significant step in protecting intellectual property rights in the digital age, particularly in the rapidly growing segment of short-format digital media.
Greenhorn Wellness, the plaintiff, operates StoryTV, a platform known for its innovative micro-drama content that has garnered widespread popularity in India. The platform, which offers one-minute episodic dramas across various genres, has quickly become the fastest-growing short drama platform in the country, amassing over 3.7 crore installations and topping app charts.
The plaintiff alleged that the defendants, operating under rogue online platforms and utilizing services like Telegram, were unlawfully reproducing, distributing, and hosting Greenhorn's copyrighted content without authorization. The defendants were also accused of misappropriating the distinctive StoryTV trademarks to falsely associate themselves with the plaintiff, thus engaging in passing off.
The court acknowledged Greenhorn's extensive efforts in producing and acquiring rights to the copyrighted works, as well as its significant investment in promoting the StoryTV brand. In her order, Justice Singh highlighted the prima facie case established by Greenhorn, noting the balance of convenience favored the plaintiff, who was likely to suffer irreparable harm if the injunction was not granted.
The defendants, including the domain name registrars and Telegram, have been directed to block and suspend the infringing platforms and channels within a specified timeframe. They are also required to disclose details of the entities operating these platforms to assist in further legal action.
This judgment underscores the judiciary's proactive stance in safeguarding intellectual property rights and reflects the challenges faced by content creators in the digital era. It serves as a deterrent to unauthorized use of copyrighted content and trademarks, reinforcing the legal protections available to rightful owners.
Bottom line:-
Intellectual Property Rights - Plaintiff's claim for protection of copyright works and trademarks against unauthorized use, reproduction, and distribution upheld. Defendants restrained from infringing Plaintiff's rights under the Copyright Act, 1957.
Statutory provision(s):
- Copyright Act, 1957 Sections 17(b), 17(c)
- Trademarks Act, 1999
- Civil Procedure Code, 1908 Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2
- Commercial Courts Act, 2015
- Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 Section 63(4)(c)
Greenhorn Wellness Private Limited v. John Doe, (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc id # 2916733
