Fresh controversy over ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ as ANI files lawsuit against makers for using their content

Netflix’s web series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has been on the heart of greater than one controversies since its release. After facing criticism for allegedly changing the names of Pakistani Muslim terrorists to Hindu code names, the show is now caught in a legal battle. News agency ANI has filed a lawsuit against the creators of the series, demanding the removal of 4 episodes for using ANI’s content without permission.

ANI’s lawyer, Siddhant Kumar, explained that the online series has used the agency’s trademarked content, which is a serious concern. With the series being surrounded by criticism, ANI believes that its brand is likewise being negatively impacted. Consequently, they're pushing for the removal of the episodes where ANI’s content turn into used without consent. The Delhi High Court has accepted the case and requested Netflix to reply to the claims.

What's the IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Controversy?

For those unfamiliar, Netflix’s IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is a fictional retelling of the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC 814 from Kathmandu. Since its release last month, the show has been criticized on social media and by some political members, specifically from the BJP, for allegedly altering the names of the hijackers. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting even on the total is called in Netflix officials to talk about these concerns. In response, Netflix added disclaimers to clarify that the code names contained in the show reflect those used for the duration of the true incident.

On the opposite hand, the talk over name changes seems unnecessary. Consistent with the official statement from the Union Home Ministry on January 6, 2000, the hijackers did, in fact, use nicknames like “Doctor,” “Burger,” “Bhola,” and “Shankar.” Film critic Anmol Jammwal (from Tried and Refused Productions) shared the document on social media, calling the outrage misguided and unfortunate. In spite of the controversies, the series is still a hot topic of debate.