The Delhi High Court has stepped in to shield Aaj Tak’s instantly recognisable branding from lookalike use, granting interim protection against a digital channel accused of mimicking the news network’s visual identity.
In an ex parte order, the Court restrained the platform operating under the banner “Charcha Aaj Ki” from using the trademarked red–white–black colour scheme, outline borders, and overall visual presentation associated with Aaj Tak across its website, social media pages, and other platforms.
The relief, however, stops short of a complete shutdown. The Court clarified that the programme title “Charcha Aaj Ki” may continue to be used, so long as it does not borrow from Aaj Tak’s distinctive visual cues.
The dispute arose after Aaj Tak’s parent company pointed out that its mark has been in continuous use since the mid-1990s and features on the Trade Marks Registry’s list of well-known trademarks. It later discovered that the digital channel was distributing news content on the JioTV platform while displaying a logo that closely mirrored Aaj Tak’s established branding.
After examining the material on record, the Court found a strong prima facie case of trademark infringement and moved to protect the broadcaster’s identity pending further proceedings.
