A major development has emerged from India’s digital content industry. On July 10, the Delhi High Court issued a temporary injunction restraining Kuku FM from streaming or releasing new episodes of five audio series until the next hearing. Which is on August 29. This Pocket FM vs Kuku FM copyright case is an example of the importance of brand and content originality in the streaming and storytelling sector, and we have so many things to understand from this news.
The Full Story Behind Pocket FM’s Copyright Case Against Kuku FM
This case began when Pocket FM, a digital audio platform launched in 2018, noticed unusual similarities between its original shows and content being published on Kuku FM, a competing platform owned by Mebigo Labs. Upon closer investigation, Pocket FM discovered that Kuku FM was allegedly copying multiple elements of its content, including storylines, titles, character arcs, promotional materials, and even taglines.
Both Pocket FM and Kuku FM are prime examples of platforms operating in the vernacular audio storytelling sector, which means they focus on delivering spoken-word content—such as audiobooks, fiction series, self-help, and educational shows—in regional Indian languages.
In November 2023, Pocket FM issued a cease-and-desist notice to Kuku FM, claiming that the platform had copied its original content without authorization. A cease-and-desist notice is a formal legal warning demanding that the recipient stop engaging in specific unlawful activities—in this case, alleged copyright infringement.
After receiving the notice, Kuku FM initially took down the disputed content from its platform. However, after some time, similar content reappeared—this time with minor changes in titles and character names. This repeated behavior was identified by Pocket FM as systematic copying. After this, Pocket FM filed its legal case against KuKu FM.
On May 30, 2025, the Delhi High Court granted a temporary injunction in favor of Pocket FM, restraining Kuku FM from streaming or releasing new episodes of the allegedly copied show Insta Millionaire.
Pocket FM filed an extended lawsuit against Kuku FM for the series of five audiobooks. The titles in question include Super Yoddha (allegedly copied as Brahmand ka Yoddha), Insta Empire (Jobless Ghar Jamai), The Immortal Warrior (Immortal Yoddha), Amrapali (The Legend of Amrapali), and Vashikaran (Avataar), with only slight alterations to the names and characters.
On July 10, the Delhi High Court issued a temporary injunction restraining Kuku FM from streaming or releasing new episodes of five audio series, which are alleged to be copied from Pocket FM’s intellectual property, until the next hearing.
Read Also:-Kolkata School Students Invent Low-Cost Lightning Conductor, File for Patent
Delhi High Court’s Actions So Far in the Pocket FM vs. Kuku FM Case
Pocket FM has demanded ₹85.7 crore in compensation from Kuku FM, along with a permanent order to stop the use and release of the allegedly copied audio series. The company claims that the repeated imitation of its content has caused significant damage to its brand and business.
The High Court also asked Kuku FM to file a detailed response with a complete account of revenue generated from the disputed shows and CA-certified financial statements and other information.
What’s Next in the Pocket FM vs. Kuku FM Case?
The court scheduled the next hearing for August 29, 2025, to review Kuku FM’s reply and potentially rule on further relief or a permanent injunction.
Conclusion:
The Pocket FM vs. Kuku FM case highlights the growing importance of protecting intellectual property in India’s digital content space. As the legal proceedings continue, the Delhi High Court’s next steps will be crucial in setting a precedent for how creative ownership is respected and enforced in the audio streaming industry.
Read Also:-Evergreening of Patents in India: Piyush Goyal Says It Won’t Be Allowed