Delhi High Court Upholds IP Rights of Andaz Apna Apna; Restricts Unauthorised Use of Characters, Dialogues, and Merchandise

Ziya Khan May 19, 2025Last Updated: May 19, 2025

Andaz Apna Apna to re release in cinemas on April 25

The Hon’ble Delhi High Court has issued a significant ex-parte ad-interim injunction on May 14, 2025, in the case of Vinay Pictures vs. Good Hope & Ors. [CS(COMM) 475/2025], safeguarding the intellectual property rights associated with the iconic Hindi film Andaz Apna Apna.

The Plaintiff, Vinay Pictures, represented by Ms. Shanti Vinaykumar Sinha, the legal heir of the late producer Mr. Vinay Sinha, sought urgent relief against the unauthorized exploitation of the film and its related works, which include characters, dialogues, catchphrases, and various intellectual property assets across merchandise, digital platforms, domain names, and AI-generated content.Recognizing the film’s cult status and beloved characters such as “Crime Master Gogo,” “Amar,” and “Prem,” as well as iconic dialogues like “Aila” and “Ouima,” the Hon’ble Court has restrained over 25 defendants, including sellers on e-commerce platforms, digital content creators, and web domain holders, from:

Using any content identical to or derived from the film;
Manufacturing or selling merchandise or products featuring the film’s intellectual property; and
Creating AI-generated or digital works that exploit the film’s characters or dialogues.

Additionally, the Court directed platforms such as YouTube, GoDaddy, Desertcart, Flipkart, and Meesho to remove infringing content, block access to URLs, and disclose the details of infringing sellers and uploaders. Importantly, the Court upheld the Plaintiff’s trademark rights and exclusive rights to commercially exploit the film and its elements.

Mr. Ameet Naik, Advocate for the Plaintiff and Partner at Anand & Naik, commented: “This order is a powerful affirmation of the rights of legacy content creators in the digital age. Andaz Apna Apna is not just a film; it represents a part of India’s cultural heritage, and its characters and dialogues are iconic. The Delhi High Court has acknowledged the necessity of protecting creative works from rampant misappropriation, including unauthorized merchandise and AI-generated content. We are thankful for the Court’s timely intervention and believe this order will serve as a crucial precedent for safeguarding intellectual property in cinema against emerging forms of digital exploitation.”