Zoom planning Legal Action Against JioMeet For 'Copy-Pasting' its App

What you need to know about the case?

• Reliance’s JioMeet was launched as an Indian alternative to US-based video conferencing apps
• Since launch, several Twitter users have highlighted the great similarities between the JioMeet and Zoom apps.
• The head of Zoom India said he was shocked at the similarities between Zoom and JioMeet.
• He emphasized that Zoom is an American application, and people tend to question their origin.
• JioMeet has recorded more than 1 million downloads within a week of its launch.

What are the similarities between the apps?

• JioMeet has the same shaped icons and uses the same set of texts and colors to make Jiomeet an exact copy of the Zoom application.
• One of the main features of JioMeet is that up to 100 people can attend the same meeting, which is similar to Zoom.
• The JioMeet feature allows users to pre-schedule meetings, create password-protected meetings, and create waiting rooms. Zoom also provides these features.

Copyright laws in India:

• The (Indian) Copyright Act, 1957, is in accordance with the international standards as contained in TRIPS.
• Literary works, dramatic works, musical works, artistic works, cinematograph films and sound recording are protected by the Copyright Act 1957, in accordance with section 13 of the Act.
• Computer programs are legally protected as literary works under the Act.
• India is also a party to the Geneva Convention for the Protection of Rights of Producers of Phonograms and is an active member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

What are the possible legal consequences?

• Indian copyright law not only provide for the civil remedies in the form permanent injunction, damages or accounts of profits, delivery of the infringing material for destruction and cost of the legal proceedings. etc. but also makes instances of infringement of copyright, a cognizable offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to three years with a fine (Rs 50,000 - Rs 2,00,000).
• Foreign national's work whose countries are member of Convention Countries to which India is a signatory, are protected against any infringement of their "work" in India through the International Copyright Order, 1999.
• The Indian courts have also been pro-active for the protection of copyright of foreign authors/owners, which includes software, motion pictures including screen play of motion pictures and database.
• According to the above law, Reliance JioMeet may face permanent injunction along with a heavy fine.

According to you what might be possible outcome of the legal action taken by zoom?