Netflix Faces Lawsuit from ANI Over Copyright Infringement in Visuals Used for IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack

Ziya Khan 3 weeks agoLast Updated: September 10, 2024

Anubhav Sinha’s series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, featuring Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza, and Naseeruddin Shah, is currently embroiled in a legal dispute. News agency ANI has filed a lawsuit against Netflix and the show’s creators, alleging that they used archival footage without permission in four episodes. The series centers around the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814.According to a report by Bar and Bench, “ANI sues Netflix and makers of IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack for alleged infringement of copyright and trademark. ANI claims the show uses its footage featuring then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, General Pervez Musharraf, and terrorist Masood Azhar without a license.” The agency is demanding the removal of these episodes from the streaming platform.

Delhi High Court Issues Notice to Netflix

In response to the lawsuit, the Delhi High Court has issued a notice to Netflix and the other producers involved in the series. The court has requested a response from the defendants, with a hearing scheduled for Friday.Sidhant Kumar, counsel for ANI, elaborated on the allegations, stating, “They have used copyright archival footage of ANI without a license. They have also used the ANI trademark. Since the series has come under criticism, our trademark and brand name are being tarnished.

Controversy Surrounding IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack

This is not the first time IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has stirred controversy. Earlier, the series faced backlash for using ‘Hindu’ code names for the terrorists involved in the real-life hijacking. The show referred to the terrorists with names like ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar,’ while their actual names were Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, and others. It was later revealed that some terrorists did indeed use the nicknames ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar’ during the hijacking.In light of the controversy, Netflix has added a disclaimer to the series, specifying the real names of the hijackers alongside the fictional code names used in the show. As the legal and public scrutiny continues, the series remains a focal point of discussion in the media.