Delhi High Court Grants John Doe Order In Favor Of Games24x7 To Protect Trademark And Copyright

Delhi High Court Grants John Doe Order In Favor Of Games24x7 To Protect Trademark And Copyright

The Delhi High Court has granted a John Doe order in favour of Games24x7, the parent company of RummyCircle, in a case involving extensive trademark and copyright infringement. The ruling addresses the misuse of RummyCircle’s brand identity, the intellectual property rights associated with the platform, and the image rights of its celebrity endorsers and founders.

The case was brought to light due to unlawful activities carried out by certain websites and domains that sought to exploit RummyCircle’s reputation. These activities included creating exact replicas of the RummyCircle website, copying its design and content to mislead users, and employing bait-and-switch tactics to redirect users from dummy webpages of RummyCircle to unauthorised and illegal gambling platforms. Additionally, these infringing entities used the RummyCircle trademark to promote unrelated or unlawful betting platforms, further tarnishing the brand’s reputation.

Games24x7 approached the Delhi High Court seeking to restrain the infringement of its copyright, trademark, and the misrepresentation of the brand, as well as the unauthorised use of its founders' names and the image rights of celebrity endorsers.

The court acknowledged the blatant nature of the infringement and the gross violation of Games24x7’s rights. Consequently, it issued an interim injunction restraining the defendants from using the RummyCircle trademark or any identical or similar trademark in their domain names, social media posts, or promotional materials. The court also ordered the impugned websites to cease using the names of Games24x7’s founders in any capacity and mandated the locking and suspension of the infringing websites.

Further, the court granted liberty to Games24x7 to file affidavits identifying any subsequently discovered infringing websites or domains, allowing the injunction to extend to such entities. It also permitted communication of the order to intermediaries to facilitate its enforcement. This decision applies universally to all John Doe defendants involved in the case.

The ruling represents a significant step in safeguarding intellectual property rights and curbing deceptive practices in the digital space. By decisively addressing such violations, the court has reinforced the need for accountability and contributed to ongoing efforts to combat the proliferation of illegal and offshore online betting platforms.