On Monday, the Calcutta High Court reviewed arguments presented by the legal representative of YouTuber Dhruv Rathee. Rathee gained attention last year for posting a video discussing Dabur's 'Real' Fruit juices on his YouTube channel, which boasts over 14 million subscribers.

In his video, Rathee conducted an analysis of the health implications associated with ready-to-serve fruit juices. He alleged that consumption of these products could contribute to type 2 diabetes and hair loss, advising his subscribers against their consumption. Upon the video's release, Dabur asserted that their 'Real' trademark had been disparaged, as Rathee had only partially blurred their trademark in the video.

Following Dabur's claims, initially, the Court instructed Rathee to remove the specific segments of his videos that targeted 'REAL' juices. However, as Rathee did not comply with the interim orders, the Court later directed for the entire video to be removed.

During today's hearing, Rathee's legal representative informed Justice Arindam Mukherjee, presiding over a single bench, that the YouTuber is prepared to modify his video by obscuring the images of REAL's fruit juice. This adjustment aims to avoid any direct references to Dabur's trademark.

It was argued that masking the references would be a more effective approach than engaging in prolonged litigation, which could extend over a considerable period. The bench acknowledged these suggestions, and counsel for Dabur requested time to consult with their client for further instructions.

Accordingly, the Court has kept the matter for orders on 29th February 2024.

Case: DABUR INDIA LIMITED v. DHRUV RATHEE AND ORS

Case No: IA NO. GA/1/2023 In CS/41/2023