People of Bombay since beginning in 2014 has amassed hundreds of followers. As we speak, it has 14,900 followers on X, 2.7 million on Instagram and 1.4 million followers on Fb. Picture Courtesy: @@HumansOfBombay/Twitter
India is within the midst of a faceoff with Canada. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are battling it out over sharing the water from the river Cauvery. Nonetheless, it’s the standoff between two social media pages that has bought the eye of the web.
What are we speaking about? The web is true now all abuzz after standard social media account People Of Bombay, based by Karishma Mehta, has filed a copyright infringement case in opposition to Individuals Of India (POI), the same social media account that recounts transferring tales of frequent residents.
And the matter has now even drawn within the founding father of standard weblog People of New York, the inspiration behind the People of Bombay web page.
Associated Articles Silence isn’t a solution: The slight downside with Sapna Bhavnani’s courageous FB submit on rapeHow People of Bombay helps a intercourse employee’s daughter research at New York UniversityWhat’s the row all about? Why did People Of Bombay sue Individuals Of India? The place does People of New York match into the talk and what does the web need to say?
The row between People of Bombay and Individuals of India
To grasp, the row between the 2 social media accounts, one wants a little bit background. People of Bombay was began in 2014 as a Fb web page. Drawing inspiration from the New York model – referred to as People of New York – it started as a medium to share heartwarming tales of Mumbaikars.
People of Bombay was the brainchild of 21-year-old entrepreneur Karishma Mehta and initially, she had stated that the web page would seize the essence of town by way of private anecdotes, struggles, and triumphs.
Within the years passed by, her web page, People of Bombay, has seen a meteoric rise, embracing an ever-widening circle of individuals, together with retailers, celebrities, and people from all walks of life. It was hailed as a platform that celebrated the variety of Mumbai’s timeless spirit.
People of Bombay was began by Karishma Mehta, then 21, in 2014. It was meant to chronicle the lives of Mumbaikars in a unique and distinctive method. Picture Courtesy: @Karishma_Mehta5/Twitter
The web page, now accessible on all social media platforms, has generated a mass following; finally rely, the People of Bombay web page on X had 14,900 followers, 2.7 million on Instagram and 1.4 million followers on Fb.
The row erupted when People of Bombay sued Individuals of India — the same storytelling platform – for copyright infringement. In its lawsuit filed within the Delhi Excessive Court docket, People of Bombay alleges that Individuals of India copied its content material, together with its emblem, tagline, and the format it primarily makes use of for its tales.
In line with Enterprise As we speak, People of Bombay is in search of damages in addition to an injunction to forestall Individuals of India from utilizing its content material. The Delhi Excessive Court docket on 18 September issued a discover to Individuals of India expressing concern over allegations of serious imitation.
People of New York weigh in
Nonetheless, the lawsuit hasn’t sat properly with Brandon Stanton, the founding father of People of New York web page.
Taking to social media platform X, Stanton on 23 September wrote: “I’ve stayed quiet on the appropriation of my work because I think @HumansOfBombay shares important stories, even if they’ve monetised far past anything I’d feel comfortable doing on HONY. But you can’t be suing people for what I’ve forgiven you for.”
I’ve stayed quiet on the appropriation of my work as a result of I feel @HumansOfBombay shares necessary tales, even when they’ve monetized far previous something I’d really feel comfy doing on HONY. However you’ll be able to’t be suing individuals for what I’ve forgiven you for. https://t.co/0jZM05YyTt
— Brandon Stanton (@humansofny) September 23, 2023
For the unaware, Stanton started the People of New York weblog in 2010. He photographed and shares tales in an distinctive method, progressively turning into an web sensation.
Founding father of People of New York, Brandon Stanton has hit out at People of Bombay for the lawsuit they’ve filed in opposition to Individuals of India. Picture Courtesy: @humansofny/Twitter
Individuals shortly chimed in on Stanton’s submit, calling out Mehta and the People of Bombay web page for being hypocritical. Some even trolled People of Bombay for covert advertising and staging tales.
One X person wrote: “@Karishma_Mehta5, this is not done. You must drop the lawsuit. If you’ve taken inspiration from Humans Of New York and they have been kind, you must afford the same liberty to others.”
One other chiming in, referred to as the lawsuit “ridiculous” and stated it solid the web page as “small minded”.
Others since then have referred to as out Mehta for her hypocrisy and even dug out an outdated video wherein she claims that she bought the thought of beginning HOB “completely randomly and out of the blue”.
People of Bombay founder Karishma Mehta stated that she bought the thought of HOB “Completely randomly and out of the blue”.
It is like Abibas/Poma saying that they bought the thought utterly random after which sued Adidas/Puma. 😂#HumansofBombay pic.twitter.com/sLouYliBVn
— Rahul Bhardwaj (@_rahulism_) September 24, 2023
People of Bombay speaks up
As Stanton’s submit garnered extra consideration, the People of Bombay web page selected to react. In an open letter to Stanton, it wrote that they have been grateful to Brandon for his storytelling and so they have been “protecting their team’s hard work”.
We’re grateful to HONY & Brandon for beginning this storytelling motion.
The swimsuit is expounded to the IP in our posts & not about storytelling in any respect.
We tried to handle the problem amicably earlier than approaching the Court docket, as we consider in defending our staff’s laborious work.
PFA
— People Of Bombay (@HumansOfBombay) September 24, 2023
It additionally clarified that the matter was associated to mental property and to not storytelling.
In a second submit, they wrote, “It’s therefore shocking that a cryptic assault on our efforts to project our intellectual property is made in this manner, especially without understanding the background of the case.”
Now whereas this battle rages on social media, it’s fascinating to notice that Individuals of India has chosen to remain mum on the matter. Nonetheless, extra will likely be revealed as Delhi Excessive Court docket has now scheduled the following listening to concerning the allegations on 11 October.
With inputs from businesses