ANI Sues Netflix for Unlicensed Use of Content in Hijack Drama

Indian news agency ANI has filed a lawsuit against Netflix Inc and the producers of an Indian series about a plane hijacking, requesting to remove the four episodes that apparently used ANI content without permission, according to ANI's lawyer who spoke to Reuters on Monday.

The series, titled "IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack," which exaggerates the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight 814 from Kathmandu, has faced dispute since its release last month. Social media users and members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party have censured the show for incorrectly portraying the hijackers as Hindus with Hindu names, when they were actually Muslims.

Last week, Netflix added new denials to the six-episode series after its officials were called in by India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The company also clarified that the code names featured in the show were based on those used during the actual event.

"They have used copyright archival footage of ANI without license, they have also used the (ANI) trademark," Sidhant Kumar, counsel for ANI, said.

"Since the series has come into such criticism, our trademark and brand name is being tarnished," Kumar said, adding that ANI wants Netflix to take down four episodes where its content has been used.

The Delhi High Court has agreed to hear the case and has requested a response from Netflix, he said.

Netflix had not yet provided a comment in response to Reuters' request, which holds a minority stake in ANI.

India attributes the December 1999 hijacking to Pakistan and militant groups based in Pakistan. The crisis ended when New Delhi released three Islamist militants, including Masood Azhar, the leader of one of these groups.