India’s Zee Entertainment Enterprises has sued beauty and fashion retailer Nykaa for allegedly using its copyrighted songs in Instagram reels to promote products, seeking damages of $210,000. The lawsuit has been filed in the Delhi High Court.
In an April 3 filing, Zee has argued that it has a licensing agreement with Meta Platforms that allows individuals to use its music on Instagram for non-commercial purposes, but has claimed Nykaa used several of its songs for promotional content, as per media reports.
The lawsuit documents, which are not public but have been reviewed by Reuters, have shown that both companies have declined to comment on the matter.
Short-video formats have become a key advertising tool for brands on social media platforms such as Instagram, often featuring popular Hindi songs as background music.
Zee has listed 12 Instagram reels in its lawsuit, along with screenshots, alleging that Nykaa used its licensed music to promote products to millions of followers.
During a hearing, Nykaa’s legal counsel has informed the court that the 12 flagged links have been taken down, according to a court order.
The lawsuit, spanning over 900 pages, has alleged that Nykaa used the music “without securing any permissions/authorisations” from Zee.
Zee has sought compensation of 20 million rupees (approximately $209,742) for the alleged illegal use of its music.
Legal experts have said the case could have wider implications for brands using music in digital marketing. Aditya Gupta, partner at Ira Law, has stated that marketing teams often use music libraries without fully understanding platform terms and that the decision could provide clarity.
The case is scheduled to be heard next on May 26.
