A legal dispute between Zee Entertainment and Nykaa has reached the Delhi High Court, raising important questions about how brands use music on social media platforms.
Zee has filed a lawsuit alleging that Nykaa used its copyrighted songs in Instagram reels to promote products without proper authorization. According to reports, the company is seeking damages of approximately $210,000 (₹1.99 crore). The case was filed on April 3 and is currently under judicial review.
What Zee Claims
The dispute centers on the distinction between personal and commercial use of music on Instagram. Zee maintains a licensing agreement with Meta Platforms that allows individuals to use its music in posts, but strictly for non-commercial purposes.
Zee alleges that Nykaa crossed this boundary by incorporating its songs into promotional reels aimed at marketing products to a large audience. The lawsuit reportedly includes references to 12 specific reels, along with screenshots, claiming the content used Zee’s music without obtaining required permissions.
Court Update
During an initial hearing, Nykaa’s legal team informed the court that the 12 disputed reels had already been removed. The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on May 26.
Why This Case Matters
The outcome of this case could have broader implications for the digital marketing ecosystem in India. Short-form video content, especially Instagram reels, has become a key promotional tool for brands, often featuring popular film music.
Legal experts suggest that many marketing teams may overlook licensing restrictions when using music available within platform libraries. Aditya Gupta, Partner at Ira Law, noted that brands often fail to fully review platform terms before using such content.
This case is expected to test whether the “non-commercial use” clause in platform agreements applies to branded content. A clear ruling could influence how companies approach music licensing in social media campaigns going forward.
