Google notice in Delhi HC case - small content creator

928 votes

You were likely caught in a broad injunction matter against cricket content (BCCI/broadcaster) which is very common, nowadays. As a result, your content was taken down which is also very common. It would be helpful if you could get the case details. This way you can check, if you're named as a party. If you're named in the matter, then you will receive a summons from the Court. If one arrives, then get a junior Delhi IP advocate (not a big firm). If you're not named in the matter, then ignore it entirely only at your peril, but there's no need to act before a summons shows up.

Advocate Kushagra Sharma LawRato

842 votes

The peculiar facts prima facie discloses a serious concern regarding your content and it is highly advisable that you should seek legal advise immediately to avoid and future repercussions, as the Hon’ble courts are stringent on these kinds of matters nowadays due to their wide social impact. You may consult with us with more details to assist you better.

Advocate Avinash Gaur LawRato

741 votes

Without the Summons or notice of the court, if it not binding upon you to enter appearance in the court. However if the other side counsel has already served you over WhatsApp or email, you can enter appearance and make your submissions through counsel to the best interest of your case. Feel free to connect. Thanks

Advocate Bhawana Pandey LawRato

612 votes

Since, your identity is disclosed pursuant to a High Court order and the impugned content has already been removed, there is no immediate cause for alarm, particularly as no summons have yet been issued to you. At this stage, you should preserve all records relating to the content, including emails, account details, and communications, and refrain from deleting or altering any material. We can assist you in obtaining and reviewing the complete court record to understand the allegations and assess the merits of the case. Regards

Advocate Abhishek Yadav LawRato

837 votes

Since the video has already been removed and you are not continuing with similar content, your legal risk is comparatively lower than a commercial piracy or repeat infringement case. In many such matters before the Delhi High Court, disclosure orders are passed primarily to identify the uploader/account holder, especially where copyright or personality rights are alleged. At present, since you have not yet received summons, there is no immediate requirement to physically appear before the Court. However, you should not ignore the matter completely. It would be advisable to proactively track the case status through the Delhi High Court website using the CS(COMM) case number mentioned in Google’s notice and ascertain whether your name/account is specifically arrayed as a defendant. Realistically, for a small meme/humor creator with limited reach and non-commercial use, courts generally focus more on removal/compliance rather than imposing extreme penalties, provided there is no continued infringement, monetised piracy, or deliberate violation after court directions. Since you have already removed the content voluntarily and are not reposting similar material, that conduct works in your favour. You should immediately preserve: screenshots of deletion/removal, Google notice emails, channel analytics showing limited/non-commercial scale, and any disclaimer/context showing meme or parody usage. Do not delete your account or destroy records now, as that may be viewed adversely later. At this stage, the most practical and cost-effective approach would be: monitor the matter quietly, avoid further uploads using the same content/clip, and wait to see whether summons are actually issued to you. If summons are eventually served, you may then engage counsel and explore: filing a limited appearance, settlement/undertaking, or seeking deletion from array of parties if your role is minor. In many such commercial IP matters, small creators are often not aggressively pursued further once content is removed and compliance is shown, though this depends on the plaintiff’s approach and the Court’s directions. In conclusion, there is presently no indication of immediate criminal exposure merely from the facts stated. Your best strategy is cautious compliance, monitoring the proceedings, and avoiding further similar uploads while keeping costs controlled unless formal summons are served.

Advocate Yuganshu Sharma LawRato