YouTuber Gaurav Taneja Ordered by Bombay High Court to Remove Videos Following Castrol Copyright Complaint

In a high-profile copyright dispute, the Bombay High Court has directed YouTuber Gaurav Taneja, popularly known as "Flying Beast," to remove two videos from his channel after Castrol India Ltd. accused him of copyright infringement. Justice Riyaz Chagla issued the interim order on December 4, 2024, siding with Castrol India in the ongoing legal tussle.

Background of the Dispute

The controversy stems from Castrol India’s?Castronomy?marketing campaign, launched in April 2024. The initiative involved flying video bloggers, including Gaurav Taneja and American YouTuber Eric Decker (Airrack), in a zero-gravity environment in the United States. Castrol covered the participants' travel and accommodation expenses in exchange for promotional content highlighting the campaign and the company’s brand.

Taneja, however, uploaded two videos on October 29 and November 1, 2024, titled?"Ready to go in Zero Gravity with @airrack"?and?"Flying in Zero Gravity,"?without acknowledging Castrol India or its campaign. According to the complaint, Taneja’s videos neither credited the company nor advanced the campaign’s objectives, prompting Castrol India to pursue legal action after repeated requests for removal were ignored.

Legal Findings and Court's Observations

Justice Chagla’s order noted that Castrol India appeared to be the rightful producer and copyright holder of the content captured during the zero-gravity experience. The court emphasized that Taneja’s use of the videos on his social media platforms without authorization violated the company’s rights.

The court further acknowledged Castrol’s efforts to resolve the matter amicably, including offering Taneja Rs 5 lakh as compensation for taking down the videos. Taneja’s refusal to comply ultimately led to the legal escalation.

Implications of the Court Order

As part of the interim relief, Taneja has been directed to remove the contested videos from his social media accounts. The court’s order temporarily supports Castrol India’s claims and underscores the importance of honouring intellectual property rights in collaborative marketing initiatives.

Campaign and Content Ownership

Castrol India's unique gastronomy campaign aimed to create buzz around the brand through immersive experiences in zero gravity. However, the fallout from Taneja’s alleged misuse of campaign material has highlighted the challenges companies face when ensuring influencer compliance in promotional partnerships.

The matter will likely set a precedent for India's influencer marketing agreements and content ownership disputes. Both parties await the final judgment, but the court's initial observations favouring Castrol underline the criticality of honouring contractual and copyright obligations in such collaborations.

The case continues to unfold, with the next hearing expected in the coming weeks.