A Commercial Court at Tis Hazari, Delhi has granted ad-interim ex parte relief to Malkans Training Institute Pvt. Ltd. and its founders in a copyright and trademark infringement suit against Telegram Messenger LLP and several unidentified online operators accused of illegally distributing the institute’s proprietary trading course content.
The suit was filed by Malkans Training Institute Pvt. Ltd., alleging that multiple Telegram channels and websites were unlawfully reproducing, distributing and selling the plaintiffs’ educational materials, including video lectures, webinar recordings, training modules and course content offered under the brand “MALKANSVIEW.”
According to the plaintiffs, the institute, established in 2008, provides specialised educational programmes relating to stock market trading and financial education through workshops, webinars, online courses and digital learning resources. The plaintiffs claimed that their original literary and cinematographic works are protected under the Copyright Act, 1957 and are distributed only through authorised platforms, including their official website, mobile applications and subscription-based courses.
The plaintiffs alleged that several anonymous operators and websites were hosting and disseminating their proprietary course materials without authorisation through Telegram channels and other digital platforms. The defendants were also accused of using the plaintiffs’ registered trademark, trade name, course titles and references to the founders in a manner that falsely suggested association with the institute.
The plaintiffs further stated that they had identified multiple instances of infringement in October 2023, including Telegram channels impersonating the institute and distributing pirated versions of its training material. Despite repeated complaints and takedown requests over 2,500 earlier instances having been removed the infringing content allegedly continued to circulate on the platform.
After examining the material placed on record, District Judge (Commercial) Rajesh Kumar Goel observed that the plaintiffs had established a prima facie case of copyright and trademark infringement as well as passing off. The Court also held that the balance of convenience lay in favour of the plaintiffs and that allowing the alleged infringement to continue would cause irreparable harm to their business and reputation.
Accordingly, the Court restrained Telegram from posting, hosting, publishing, uploading, distributing or otherwise using the plaintiffs’ copyrighted works or trademarks on its platform. Telegram was further directed to remove or disable the identified infringing channels, groups, bots and URLs within three days.
The Court also restrained several other defendants, including websites and unidentified operators, from using the plaintiffs’ trademarks, trade name or any deceptively similar marks in connection with infringing content until the next hearing.
Summons in the suit have been issued to the defendants, and the matter has been listed for further hearing on April 8, 2026.
The Court directed the plaintiffs to comply with the requirements under Order XXXIX Rule 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure and clarified that the defendants must file their written statement within 30 days of service of summons, extendable up to 120 days in accordance with the provisions of the Commercial Courts Act.
Appearances:
For the Plaintiff: Sh. Nakul Gandhi, Sh. Gurdeep Singh and Ms Siddhi Sahoo, Ld. Counsels.
