Delhi HC Orders To Block Websites Copying RummyCircle

SUMMARY

Delhi High Court has issued a John Doe order against multiple websites accused of illegally copying the design and content of RummyCircle

The order came on Games24x7’s lawsuit to address multiple violations, including copyright, trademark infringement, etc

A John Doe order is a legal order which enables a person or organisation to take action against an unidentified individual or group

The Delhi High Court has issued a John Doe order against multiple websites accused of illegally copying the design and content of RummyCircle, the online gaming platform operated by Games24x7.

The order came on Games24x7’s lawsuit to address multiple violations, including copyright, trademark infringement, misrepresentation, and the unauthorised use of the names of the startup’s founders on certain websites.

Notably, a John Doe order is a legal order which enables a person or organisation to take action against an unidentified individual or group. The term “John Doe” is used as a placeholder for the unknown party accused of wrongdoing.

In the plea, Games24X7 said that certain websites were employing the bait-and-switch tactic, first showing a fake RummyCircle page to lure users before redirecting them to illegal gambling and casino sites.

Additionally, it claimed that several domains were unlawfully using the RummyCircle trademark to promote competing rummy platforms or illegal gambling sites.

Some of these websites also allegedly created near-identical replicas of RummyCircle’s site, copying its design, text, and testimonials to falsely associate themselves with the brand.

In its ruling, the HC said that the defendants (fake websites) clearly violated Games24x7’s rights. The court ordered the defendants to not use the trademark of RummyCircle or anything similar in their website names, social media posts, or other materials.

It also said that the defendants cannot use the names of Games24x7’s founders in any way, and ordered that the infringing websites be locked and taken down.

In recent times, a number of such orders have been passed by courts amid the growing menace of copyright and trademark infringement.

Last month, ZEE Entertainment was granted a ‘Dynamic+’ John Doe order by the Delhi HC for protection against digital privacy. This order enabled Zee to take action against websites illegally streaming its content, including movies, TV shows, and OTT content, without needing repeated court permissions.

Founded by Bhavin Pandya and Trivikraman Thampy in 2006, Games24X7 offers games like RummyCircle and My11Circle.

It entered the unicorn club after raising $75 Mn in a funding round led by Malabar Investment in 2022. It counts Tiger Global, Raine Group, among others, as its backers.

The unicorn competes with the likes of Dream11 and MPL.

In FY23, Games24X7’s consolidated revenue from operations grew 1.7X to INR 1,988.10 Cr and net loss narrowed 29% to INR 199.60 Cr.