Delhi HC directs Meta to disclose Rights Manager access norms amid misuse claims
On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court directed Meta to lay out its policy governing access to Rights Manager, a copyright-management tool, after a content creator alleged that the platform's protection mechanism was being misused to target original work.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani asked the tech giant to place on record the eligibility criteria and norms for granting access to the tool, along with the grounds on which applications can be turned down. The court also sought clarity on the process for verifying claims of ownership, and how Meta distinguishes between genuine rights holders and fraudulent applicants.
The direction was issued during a hearing of a suit filed by Mohit Kumar, who runs the social media handle 'Rise With Mohit' and works as a business coach. Mr. Kumar's lawyers, Himanshu Goyal and Muskaan Garg, submitted that their client had applied for access to Rights Manager on three occasions but was rejected each time without any specific reason.
They alleged that scammers had copied and uploaded his original videos to the tool, falsely presenting themselves as rights holders, and then used these registrations to issue copyright strikes against his accounts. This, the counsel argued, had serious consequences for Mr. Kumar's online presence, including loss of audience engagement, disruption of commercial collaborations, and an impact on his ability to sell courses.
Copyright strikes are formal notices issued by platforms in response to intellectual property complaints. For content creators, repeated strikes can lead to restrictions on their accounts, reduced visibility, and in some cases, suspension. This makes the integrity of the copyright claim process critically important.
The counsel also highlighted a discrepancy in Meta's approach, stating that creators with relatively smaller audiences had been granted access to the tool, while established creators with substantial viewership and engagement were being denied. They submitted that this indicated a lack of transparency in the company's decision-making.
In response, Meta's counsel told the court that the disputed copyright strikes had been reversed after technical verification, and that the content removed pursuant to those strikes had been restored. The counsel further stated that Mr. Kumar's accounts had not been suspended and remained accessible.
Justice Bhambhani observed that concerns regarding misuse of copyright enforcement mechanisms appeared to be recurring in cases involving content creators, and warranted closer examination. The court noted that the issue was contributing to an increasing number of disputes and litigation. The matter is now listed for hearing on September 24, along with similar cases.
Rights Manager is a tool provided by Meta to help rights holders protect their content across Facebook and Instagram. It allows users to manage and control the use of copyrighted material. In principle, it is designed to help legitimate owners defend their intellectual property. However, this case underscores potential vulnerabilities in the system, where bad actors may exploit the tool's features to suppress legitimate content.
The court's intervention brings attention to the broader challenge of ensuring copyright protection does not become a vehicle for harassment. While platforms are duty-bound to safeguard intellectual property, the mechanisms they deploy must also have checks to prevent abuse.
