The Delhi High Court has recently issued a restraint order against several YouTube channels, websites, and social media platforms, prohibiting them from infringing upon or replicating any trademarks, titles, characters, or other intellectual property associated with the popular sitcom *Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah*.

Justice Mini Pushkarna issued an ex parte ad interim injunction order on August 14. The order extends to platforms unlawfully selling the show's merchandise, replicating its characters, or producing AI-generated images, deepfakes, and animated videos, including those by unknown (John Doe) defendants.

“An order of ex parte ad-interim injunction is passed thereby restraining the defendant nos. 1 to 12 and 14 to 21, (including the John Doe parties), their owners, partners, proprietors, officers, servants, employees and all others in capacity of principal or agent, acting for and on their behalf or anyone claiming through by or under it, from in any manner, hosting, streaming, broadcasting, transmitting, exhibiting, making available for viewing and downloading, providing access to and communicating to the public displaying, uploading, modifying, publishing, updating, sharing (including to its subscribers and users), offering for sale on their websites, through the internet, or in any manner or platform whatsoever, any content, goods or services, that in any manner whatsoever, amounts to infringement/passing off, of the plaintiff’s copyrighted material/ registered trademarks, including, but not limited to the title, the Characters, Format and Underlying Materials in the said show or anything else, which otherwise amounts to an infringement of the plaintiff’s Copyright/registered trademarks/passing off of the goods/services offered by the defendants,” the Court ordered.

Neela Film Productions Private Limited, the producer of *Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah*, approached the High Court, asserting ownership over the show's title, format, characters, mannerisms, dialogues, voice, and all other intellectual property rights (IPR). They raised concerns about numerous social media accounts, websites, and channels infringing on these rights, including selling unauthorized merchandise online. The Court was further informed that, in addition to videos, animations, and deepfakes, some platforms were also displaying pornographic content featuring the show's characters.

After reviewing the case, the Bench determined that Neela Film Productions had established a prima facie case for granting an injunction. Consequently, it issued the injunction order.