HC stops websites from illegally using HT Media news

The Delhi high court has temporarily restrained two commercial websites from ‘illegally’ carrying news articles published by HT Media Limited, which they were allegedly forwarding to their subscribers for commercial gains. HT reports.

The Delhi high court has temporarily restrained two commercial websites from ‘illegally’ carrying news articles published by HT Media Limited, which they were allegedly forwarding to their subscribers for commercial gains.

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The websites www.legalpundits.com and www.editorialjunction.com were allegedly found to have been picking news items from www.hindustantimes.com and www.livemint.com, and newspaper Hindustan Times and its business publication Mint, which they copied in entirety and forwarded to the public without any consent, authorisation or licence.

Justice Sunil Gaur granted ex-parte interim injunction order in favour of HT Media Limited. The court issued notice to Mumbai-based Legalpundits International Services Pvt. Ltd. and Bangalore-based Rahul Vijh, who owns and maintains www.legalpundits.com and www.editorialjunction.com respectively.

Their responses have been sought by March 24, 2011.

Justice Gaur restrained both the websites’ principal officers, directors, agents, franchisees, servants from directly or indirectly using, copying/ reproducing, and/or making available on its website(s) any of HT Media articles/content/works, either entirely or in parts, and/or in any manner.

HT Media contended that Legalpundits offered online storehouse of legal updates, regulatory and business policies to its subscribers on fees ranging from R8,000 to R20,000 per yearly subscription.

While HT Media claimed damages of R20 lakh from Legalpundits, it has sought R50 lakh from the website editorialjunction.