LI Network
Published on: 24 August 2023 at 16:56 IST
The Delhi High Court has resolved a contempt of court proceeding lodged by Bennett Coleman & Co. (Times Group) against Republic TV and its Chief Editor Arnab Goswami.
The complaint alleged that the defendants had breached the Court’s earlier directive concerning the use of the tagline ‘Nation Wants To Know‘ by Republic TV.
Today, the Times Group withdrew the plea after Justice C Hari Shankar observed that Republic TV’s utilization of the tagline appeared to adhere to the limits set by the Court’s October 2020 order. The single-judge consequently opted to close the contempt case.
The High Court had previously issued an interim injunction on October 23, 2020, restraining ARG Outlier Media (the owner of Republic TV) from utilizing the trademark ‘News Hour’. However, the Court declined to impose an interim order regarding the tagline ‘Nation Wants To Know’.
Times Group had acknowledged that Goswami was permitted to use the tagline as part of his speech or news presentation.
The Court instructed that if Republic TV chose to employ the tagline as a trademark for their goods or services, they must maintain and periodically submit accounts detailing such usage in affidavits.
Subsequently, Times Group filed a contempt application alleging that ARG had violated the October 2020 order by employing the tagline ‘Nation Wants To Know’ as a trademark and failing to uphold the directed account filing.
Times Group argued that the defendants associated the tagline with Arnab Goswami. However, the defendants, represented by Senior Advocate Malvika Trivedi, contended that the 2020 order permitted the tagline’s use as part of news-related speech or presentation. Screenshots previously presented during the injunction application were also re-emphasized.
The Court noted that its October 2020 order allowed Republic TV to use the tagline “for speech or presentation of news, etc.” Additionally, the judge noted that during a proceeding under Order XXXIX Rule 2A, the matter of trademark infringement wasn’t under consideration. The Court’s assessment focused on whether there was a violation of the order.
The Court ultimately found that the defendants had likely operated the tagline “within possible limits” as defined in the October 23, 2020, order. Thus, the Court concluded that there was no contempt case, leading to the withdrawal of the Times Group’s contempt plea.