In a significant legal move, Zee Entertainment Enterprises has filed a case against Nykaa on Instagram accusing it of unauthorized use of its copyrighted music in promotional material. The media giant is demanding compensation of Rs. ₹2 crore (about $210,000), according to court filings reviewed by Reuters.
Zee takes Nayaka to court over use of Instagram Reels music; Asks for Rs. loss of 2 crores
The suit, submitted in the Delhi High Court on April 3, focuses on the use of Zee-owned songs in short video clips posted by Nykaa on Instagram. Zee has argued that although she has a licensing arrangement with the Meta platform that allows individuals to use her music for non-commercial purposes, it does not apply to brands using tracks for advertising.
According to the claims, Nykaa featured several of Zee’s songs in Instagram Reels to promote her products to her large follower base, allegedly without obtaining the necessary permission. The case reportedly includes references to 12 such posts along with supporting screenshots presented as evidence.
Although detailed court documents are not publicly available, both companies have so far refrained from issuing official statements on the matter.
During a recent hearing, Nykaa’s legal representative informed the court that the 12 reels identified had already been removed from the platform. The development was noted in a court order, although it has not been widely reported until now.
Zee’s complaint, which reportedly runs into over 900 pages, says the music was used without proper authorisation, and is therefore a violation of his rights. The company has requested financial compensation for unauthorized commercial exploitation of its content.
The case highlights a growing trend in digital marketing, where brands increasingly rely on short-form video content on platforms like Instagram, often pairing visuals with popular Hindi tracks to drive engagement.
Legal experts believe the outcome of the dispute could have broad implications for how companies view the use of music in social media campaigns. Aditya Gupta, partner at Ira Law, said marketing teams often use music available in platform libraries without fully understanding the usage restrictions, adding that the court’s decision could bring more clarity to such practices.
The next hearing of the case is scheduled for May 26 and its outcome is likely to be closely watched by both the media and the advertising industry.
