Nykaa Seeks Meta’s Inclusion in Ongoing Copyright Dispute with Zee

The copyright dispute between Zee Entertainment and Nykaa continues to develop before the Delhi High Court. The case stems from Zee’s claim that Nykaa, one of India’s leading online and offline beauty and retail platforms, infringed its intellectual property rights by using copyrighted music in promotional Instagram content without the required authorization.

According to a non-public filing dated 19 May, Nykaa has asked the Delhi High Court to include Meta, Instagram’s parent company, in the proceedings. Nykaa argues that Meta is the only party capable of authoritatively determining whether its use of the music clips breached the terms of any applicable licence. Zee maintains that its licensing agreement with Meta permits individuals to use its music catalogue on the platform solely for non-commercial purposes, and that commercial use requires separate authorization. Furthermore, Nykaa has also requested that the dispute be referred to mediation before further judicial proceedings take place.

The case is being closely watched as it raises important questions regarding the commercial use of music available through social media platforms and the allocation of responsibility among rights holders, platforms and corporate users. We will continue to monitor developments and provide updates on this matter.