The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned Meta over its policy for granting access to its Rights Manager tool, after an established content creator alleged that scammers were misusing the system to issue fraudulent copyright strikes against his original videos while genuine creators were denied access.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani directed Meta to place on record its policy and eligibility criteria for granting access to Rights Manager, a free content-protection tool available for Facebook and Instagram. The Court also sought an explanation for the basis on which applications for access to the tool are rejected.
The High Court made this observation while presiding over a lawsuit instituted by Mohit Kumar, an artificial intelligence and business coach who creates educational content under the online moniker “Rise With Mohit.”
Kumar alleged that scammers downloaded his original videos and registered them with Meta’s Rights Manager as their own. They subsequently used the tool to issue copyright strikes against his accounts.
Rights Manager allows eligible users to identify content uploaded on Facebook and Instagram that matches material claimed by them. Depending on the settings, users can monitor, block or take action against such content.
Kumar’s counsel submitted that he had applied for access to Rights Manager three times but was rejected without being given a clear reason. It was further argued that some accounts with only a few hundred followers appeared to have obtained access, while established creators with substantial engagement and commercial collaborations were denied the tool.
Justice Bhambhani likened the situation to handing the house keys to a thief rather than the homeowner. Kumar’s counsel argued that fraudulent copyright strikes could have serious consequences for genuine creators, potentially resulting in the loss of accounts, years of content, monetisation opportunities, brand collaborations and business.
Meta informed the Court that the copyright strikes against Kumar had been reversed and that content removed pursuant to those strikes had been restored. The company also clarified that Kumar’s accounts had never been suspended and remained accessible.
Meta further stated that, subject to technical verification, Kumar’s accounts would not be removed on the basis of the disputed copyright strikes.
The company’s counsel agreed to examine Kumar’s application for Rights Manager access after verifying his claims and to place the relevant policy and eligibility criteria before the Court.
The High Court also directed that any content removed pursuant to fraudulent copyright strikes be restored if Kumar provides sufficient material establishing that the content belongs to him and that the copyright claims were fraudulent.
Justice Bhambhani observed that similar concerns appeared to be arising in other cases involving content creators and required closer examination. Observing that system loopholes were triggering increased litigation, the court remarked that the issue needed to be sorted out, and issued summons in the suit as well as notice on Mohit Kumar’s interim relief plea.
The matter will next be heard on September 24 along with a connected case raising similar concerns over the misuse of copyright enforcement mechanisms on social media platforms.
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