The Bombay High Court has rejected a plea seeking to block the release and streaming of Disney+ Hotstar’s web series Lootere, dismissing claims by filmmaker Suneel Darshan, who argued that the rights of title belonged to his 1993 film starring Sunny Deol and Juhi Chawla. This is very important to understand, and shows the perfect example of Intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and how Bollywood is taking IPR protection very seriously.
Background of the Lootere Web Series Trademark Dispute
The dispute started when filmmaker Suneel Darshan, director of the 1993 film Lootere, approached the Bombay High Court seeking to restrain the release of a new web series of the same name on Disney+ Hotstar (now JioCinema/Hotstar). Darshan argued that he held exclusive rights over the title, having registered it with the Western India Film Producers’ Association (WIFPA), and claimed the use of the name by Hotstar would mislead the audience and exploit his film’s goodwill.
The platform and producers countered Darshan’s plea by stating that film titles are not protected under copyright law, and that he had not registered Lootere as a trademark, which would have given him stronger legal protection. They also highlighted the significant delay in filing the petition, since Darshan approached the court only after the show’s release.
The Bombay High Court dismissed Darshan’s plea, noting that WIFPA registration does not grant statutory rights and cannot prevent others from using the same title. The court emphasized that without a valid trademark registration, Darshan could not claim exclusive ownership, thereby allowing the web series Lootere to continue streaming.
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Court’s Final Decision in the Lootere Web Series Trademark Case
The Bombay High Court dismissed filmmaker Suneel Darshan’s request to block the streaming of the series Lootere on Disney+ Hotstar (now JioCinema/Hotstar). Darshan claimed that he had exclusive rights over the title since he directed the 1993 movie Lootere. However, the court noted that he did not hold a registered trademark for the name and that simply using it decades ago did not guarantee permanent ownership. The judges also pointed out that the new series had its own script and concept, unrelated to Darshan’s film. With this, the court cleared the way for Hotstar to continue streaming the series without any legal hurdles.
How Intellectual Property Rights Played a Key Role in the Lootere Web Series Case
The court looked at the issue through the lens of intellectual property law.
No Registered Trademark – Darshan had never registered Lootere as a trademark. Without it, his claim was weak.
Copyright vs. Title – Copyright law protects creative works like scripts, music, or films, but not single-word titles unless trademarked. The court clarified that Darshan’s copyright in his movie did not extend to the title alone.
Fresh Creation – The series Lootere on Disney+ Hotstar was found to have a different storyline, script, and concept, so copyright infringement did not apply.
Conclusion
The Lootere case shows the vital role of intellectual property rights in today’s entertainment industry. Without proper trademark protection, even well-known titles can be reused, showing that IPR is not just a legal formality but a powerful tool to safeguard creative identity.