Delhi High Court - Orders
Hulm Entertainment Pvt Ltd & Ors vs Sbn Gaming Network Private Limited & Ors on 7 July, 2025
Author: Amit Bansal
Bench: Amit Bansal
$~10
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ CS(COMM) 718/2023, I.A. 19946/2023, I.A. 6717/2024 & I.A.
7248/2024
HULM ENTERTAINMENT PVT LTD & ORS. .....Plaintiffs
Through: Mr. Rohan Swarup, Ms. Tanya Arora
& Mr. Shitanshu Abhishek,
Advocates.
versus
SBN GAMING NETWORK PRIVATE LIMITED
& ORS. .....Defendants
Through: Mr. Subhash Bhutoria & Ms. Anuja
Negi, Advocates for D-1-3.
Mr. Naman Joshi, Mr. Mrinal Ojha,
Ms. Debarshi Dutta, Ms. Nikita Rathi
& Mr. Arjun Mookerjee, Advocates
for D-4.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT BANSAL
ORDER
% 07.07.2025
1. The matter is listed for framing of issues.
2. Based on the pleadings of the parties, the following issues are framed in the suit:
i. Whether the Plaintiffs are the owners of the copyright in their work -
"EXCHANGE - 22" and in the graphical user interface, curated data, structure, sequence and interface, organization of its mobile application "Exchange22"? OPP ii. Whether the literary works registered under number L-128833/2023 and L-89338/2020, are original works, capable of copyright CS(COMM) 718/2023 Page 1 of 3 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 09/07/2025 at 21:39:20 protection under Indian laws? OPD iii. Whether the Defendant No. 1-3 are guilty of infringement of the Plaintiffs' copyright works "EXCHANGE - 22" and the mobile application "Exchange22"? OPP iv. Whether the Plaintiffs are entitled to a decree of rendition of accounts/damages? If yes, to the extent of what quantum? OPP v. Costs.
vi. Whether or not the Plaintiff has approached this Hon'ble Court with unclean hands and the suit is liable to be dismissed on account of suppressio veri and suggestio falsi? OPD vii. Whether or not the literary work registered under number L-
89338/2020, is an original work, capable of copyright protection under Indian laws? OPD viii. Whether or not the Plaintiff's mobile application (Object and Source Code of the UI) is an adaptation of the literary work, capable of protection under the Indian laws? OPD ix. Whether or not the Defendant has copied the object code, source code or any original feature of the Plaintiff's gaming application, Exchange 22, thereby committing copyright infringement as alleged by the Plaintiff? OPD x. Relief.
3. No other issue is pressed for or arises for consideration.
4. The parties shall file their respective list of witnesses within four (4) weeks from today.
5. The plaintiffs shall file evidence of their witnesses by way of CS(COMM) 718/2023 Page 2 of 3 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 09/07/2025 at 21:39:20 affidavits within eight (8) weeks from today.
6. Counsel for the defendant no.4/GoDaddy.com LLC submits that none of the issues framed by this Court concern the defendant no.4 and hence, the defendant no.4 may be deleted from the array of parties. 6.1. It is further submitted that the defendant no.4 shall comply with any direction that may be passed by this Court upon the final adjudication of the suit.
7. Subject to the aforesaid statement, the defendant no.4 is deleted from the array of parties.
7.1. Amended memo of parties be filed within one (1) week.
8. List before the Joint Registrar for fixing the dates of trial on 15th September, 2025.
AMIT BANSAL, J JULY 7, 2025/at CS(COMM) 718/2023 Page 3 of 3 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 09/07/2025 at 21:39:20