Delhi HC refuses to entertain Archie's plea over copyright

The Delhi High Court has refused to entertain New York-based Archie Comic's petition over copyright violations in the country, citing lack of jurisdiction as the company does not have an office in India.

A bench headed by Justices Vikramajit Sen and Mukta Gupta, while rejecting the plea of the international company, said that the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the plea of the firm.

"On merits in the present case, as discussed above, even taking the pleadings and documents annexed thereto by way of amendment, this Court has no territorial jurisdiction to entertain the plaint," the court said.

The order of the court came over a petition of Archie Comic Publications challenging the use of mark 'ARCHIES' by Mumbai based Purple Creations.

The US firm submitted that this court has jurisdiction to try and entertain its plea as it is carrying on business in Delhi since 1979 and its comics are imported by Variety Book Depot in the city.

Full report here Deccan Herald