ANI Sues Netflix Over Unauthorized Use of Footage in Hijack Series

ANI sued Netflix for using its footage in a controversial Netflix series about a 1999 plane hijacking without permission

ANI, a prominent Indian news agency, has sued Netflix and the producers of an Indian series about a plane hijacking, demanding that four episodes be removed for using its content without permission. The series, titled IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack, is a dramatized version of the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 from Kathmandu, Nepal, to New Delhi, India. It has faced controversy since its release last month.

The lawsuit claims that the series used ANI’s copyrighted archival footage without a proper license and also used the ANI trademark. ANI’s lawyer, Sidhant Kumar, explained that the unauthorized use of their footage is damaging ANI’s reputation, especially given the backlash the show has faced. As a result, ANI has requested Netflix to take down the four episodes that contain its content. The Delhi High Court has agreed to hear the case and has asked Netflix to respond. 

The series has also been criticized by some social media users and members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They have expressed concerns that the series inaccurately portrays the hijackers as Hindus with Hindu names, while in reality, they were Muslims. The criticism has added to the controversy surrounding the show.

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Following the backlash, Netflix added new disclaimers to the six-episode series. The company stated that the code names used in the series match those used during the actual hijacking event. However, this clarification has not stopped the criticism or the legal action from ANI.

The 1999 hijacking of IC-814 remains a sensitive topic in India. The plane, flying from Kathmandu to New Delhi, was hijacked and forced to land in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The crisis ended after India agreed to release three terrorists, including Masood Azhar, who later became the head of a Pakistan-based militant group. India has long accused Pakistan and its terrorist groups of being behind the hijacking, a claim that has further strained relations between the two countries.

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