Parties Inform Court of Settlement
On 4 November 2025, the parties submitted a joint application under Order XXIII Rule 3 read with Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, stating that they had resolved their disputes amicably.
After reviewing the submission, District Judge Pulastya Pramachala of Patiala House Courts recorded the settlement and formally disposed of the suit by order dated 10 November 2025. The plaintiff confirmed it has no further claims against defendant no.1 and does not intend to pursue defendant no.2.
Court Fees to Be Fully Refunded
In line with Section 89 CPC, Section 16 of the Court Fee Act, and the Supreme Court ruling in The High Court of Judicature at Madras v. M.C. Subramaniam & Ors. (2021) 3 SCC 560, the court ordered a full refund of the court fees paid by ANI Media.
The case file has been consigned to the record room after completion of all formalities.
Nature of the Original Copyright Allegations
ANI had initially approached the court alleging that several of its video clips had been reproduced and used on Thugesh’s YouTube channel without permission. The agency had claimed infringement of its exclusive rights and sought a series of remedies, including:
- A permanent injunction restraining further use of its content
- A mandatory injunction requiring the removal of the disputed clips
- Damages for alleged “piracy,” “plagiarism,” and unauthorised exploitation of copyrighted work
ANI had also identified specific videos that, according to the agency, had been incorporated into Thugesh’s content without proper licensing.
Thugesh, on the other hand, maintained that his use of short video excerpts fell within permissible use, arguing that the content was transformed for commentary, parody, or review purposes on his channel.
Case Concludes Without Ruling on Merits
Because the parties chose to settle, the court did not evaluate the copyright claims or decide whether the use of the videos amounted to infringement or qualified as fair use.
Instead, the decree reflects the mutual decision of both sides to close the matter and move on without further litigation.
The closure highlights a growing trend in digital copyright disputes, where creators and rights-holders often opt for negotiated resolutions rather than lengthy trials. Such settlements can help avoid uncertainty over evolving interpretations of fair use, especially in the online commentary and reaction-video space.
