Indian News Agency ANI has sued American streaming giant Netflix over the release of the controversial web series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The Indian News Agency has sued Netflix for copyright infringement. Delhi High Court has accepted the lawsuit filed by the Indian News Agency against Netflix. Notably, Netflix has been facing major ire from all around ever since Anubhav Sinha's directorial limited series IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack was released. At first, netizens on social media accused Netflix & the maker Anubhav Sinha of sympathising with the terrorists and not outlining ISI's role. IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack makers were also accused of changing the name of terrorists to Hindu Code Names. For this, the Netflix Content Head was also summoned by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry.
As a result, IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack makers updated their disclaimer of the series in the beginning. However, it seems like Netflix and IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack are all braced up for more legal trouble and this time the allegation sounds serious. Below is why ANI is suing Netflix-
Why ANI is suing Netflix?
As per reports, ANI has accused Netflix and the controversial series makers of using its copyrighted footage without a license and thus filed a case for copyright and trademark infringement. ANI in its plea, stated that the makers of the IC814 series have used its footages which show clips of (Then) PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pakistan’s General Parvez Musharraf, and terrorist Masood Azhar, and others without any license.
After hearing ANI’s plea in this matter, the Delhi High Court has issued notices to Netflix and other producers of the web series IC814.
Justice Mini Pushkarna heard the matter briefly and asked Matchbox Shots, Benaras Mediaworks, and Netflix to file their replies to the petition filed by ANI for interim relief within two days. The matter will be heard on Friday (13th September).
Representing ANI, Advocate Sidhant Kumar categorically noted that they do not want to be associated with a show which exonerates Pakistan of its role in the plane hijack and which is basically a public relations exercise for the Pakistani spy agency ISI.
“This show is not only (sic) controversial but anti-national and unpatriotic in the eyes of the public. I do not want to be associated with them… Four out of the six episodes use my footage extensively. I engaged a cameraperson in Pakistan who possibly has the only shot of Masood Azhar being released in Pakistan," said Sidhant Kumar.
Directed by Anubhav Sinha, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is said to be a true story based on the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu (Nepal) to New Delhi by five terrorists.