ZEE- Bhaskar sues Bennett, Coleman & Co for Rs 100 crore

Diligent Media Corporation, the joint venture company of ZEE and Dainik Bhaskar groups, has sued Bennett, Coleman & Co. for Rs 100 crore in damages.

The company has also asked for an unconditional apology for hijacking a teaser ad campaign of the group's yet to be launched English newspaper from Mumbai.

Diligent Media Corporation has filed a civil suit in the Bombay High Court claiming that the creative of teaser advert "speak up, it's in your DNA" was lifted by The Times of India Group for the advantage of a publication of the Times Group.

The statement from the company said that the main draw of a teaser campaign is the curiosity factor, which unfolds over a period of time. The group claimed that The Times of India group has tried to kill the curiosity factor by using it in their advertisement.

Times Group/Bennett Coleman & Co. has been charged for infringement of copyright, passing of action and resorting to unfair business practice with a view to derive unfair business advantage, with malicious intention and motive.

The matter came up for hearing on Friday in the court of Justice DG Karnik. The court heard both the sides and directed Bennett, Coleman Group/Times Group not to issue any further advertisements of similar or the same nature or resembling the advertisement campaign of the plaintiff. The matter will be heard on Monday.

Speaking on this development, Ashish Kaul, vice-president, Corporate Brand Development Group, ZEE Telefilms said, "The hoardings were part of the teaser campaigns in which the main draw was the curiosity factor. TOI tried to hijack the curiosity factor by using it to their advantage in their own ad. It certainly was disappointing to see such a large group of repute indulging in unfair practices and above all, the group's agency gleefully admitting that they cheated our campaign. This was unethical on their part."

© 2005 agencyfaqs!