Reviewed case brief
Star India Pvt. Ltd. v. Leo Burnett (India) Pvt. Ltd.
2003 (27) PTC 81 (Bom)
Star India claimed copyright in its television channel format and presentation style. The Bombay High Court rejected the claim, holding that a TV format or style of presentation is not a "work" protectable under the Copyright Act. This case reinforces the idea-expression dichotomy in the context of
- Court
- Bombay High Court
- Year
- 2003
- Subjects
- Intellectual Property Law
- Reviewed
- 2026-06-30
Rule established
A television programme format or presentation style does not qualify as a 'work' eligible for copyright protection; there is no copyright in a concept, style, or format
Facts
Issues
Held
Ratio decidendi
How to use it in an exam
Editorial source
PTC Reports
Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.