'Aashiqui' trademark dispute: Vishesh Bhatt reveals reason for court action
What's the story
Vishesh Bhatt, the Managing Director of Vishesh Films, recently won a legal battle against T-Series over the use of the title Aashiqui.
The Delhi High Court issued an interim injunction preventing T-Series from using similar titles like Tu Hi Aashiqui or Tu Hi Aashiqui Hai for their upcoming films.
In an interview with India Today, Bhatt explained why he felt compelled to take legal action despite having a trademark on the title.
Brand misuse
'Aashiqui' brand was being misused: Bhatt
During the interview, Bhatt revealed that the decision to approach the court was driven by concerns over the misuse of the Aashiqui brand.
He stated, "There were a lot of unsolicited people, the wrong kind of people across the country and everywhere, who are misusing the brand Aashiqui for a period of time."
"It just continued and we issued a couple of public notices also."
Misinformation spread
Bhatt expressed concerns over fake news and misinformation
Bhatt expressed his concerns about the spread of fake news and misinformation related to the Aashiqui brand.
"There was a lot of turmoil and fake news going on, even in the media, who were picking up the fake news and publishing it as true without confirmation from us."
"As responsible people, we didn't want Aashiqui, which is a brand that belongs to the people of India, to be misused by certain groups or irresponsible people to spread things."
Legal action
Court order was necessary to protect 'Aashiqui' brand, said Bhatt
Despite their efforts, misinformation still circulated.
This led Vishesh Films to seek a court order as a more robust measure to prevent others from using Aashiqui in their titles.
"Hence, the only hook left was to get something as strong and powerful as a court judgment, which says that the word Aashiqui cannot be misused," he added.
Court's acknowledgement
Court acknowledged 'Aashiqui' as a significant brand
The court recognized the title Aashiqui as a significant brand associated with successful films released in 1990 and 2013.
Justice Sanjeev Narula stated that T-Series's use of similar titles could potentially confuse the public.
The court also emphasized that both companies had previously collaborated on the Aashiqui films, and neither could exploit the franchise without the other's consent.
The ruling comes after T-Series announced a film with a similar title—which Vishesh Films argued could mislead the public.