‘Toxic’ release: Yash-starrer creators sending legal notices over ‘negative’ online content? |

Yash starrer ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’ has gone to court for alleged defamatory and malicious online content surrounding the film. A civil court in Bengaluru has issued an ex parte temporary injunction restraining the publication and circulation of allegedly false, malicious, defamatory or derogatory content related to the film. The order was approved on August 22, days before the film’s release.Now, after the release of the film and its record-breaking debut at the box office, crossing over Rs 100 crore, several social media posts doing the rounds online, allege that the makers are now sending legal notices to several content creators over their posts about the film.

YouTuber receives legal notice

YouTuber Suraj Kumar has reportedly received a legal notice for his post on Yash-starrer. A screenshot of the alleged notice has been circulating online. It begins with: “We are issuing this notice on behalf of our client, KVN Monster Mind Creations LLP, the producer and copyright owner of the motion picture film titled ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups’ (‘Film’).”Taking his handle, @Surajkumarrevi1, he posed the screenshot and wrote, “Thank you #Toxic team for the disclaimer on my review.”The notice further states: “Our client has become aware that you have published, circulated, shared, posted and/or online media. The URLs currently identified in connection with such activity are set out below:”A tweet by @itisprashanth made the same allegation saying, “I received legal notice from @TheNameIsYash and @KvnProductions for the review of #Toxic. I thought he’s quite the macho guy in real life too. Looks like he’s just another rich and influential person!”The allegations and claims made in the social media posts mentioned above are unverified and have not been independently corroborated.

About the court order on ‘Toxic’

While the order restricts “allegedly false, malicious, defamatory or derogatory material,” it does not amount to an outright ban on reviews or opinions about the film.The Additional City Civil and Sessions Court passed the interim order on a suit filed by production house KVN Productions LLP against several accused, including X Corp. The case also names one accused ‘John Doe’, who represents unidentified persons who can allegedly circulate such content online.The court said the material presented by the production house established a prima facie case in its favour.“On perusal of all the documents filed by the plaintiff, I found that there is a prima facie case in favor of the plaintiff, the balance of convenience is in favor of the plaintiff. If TI (temporary injunction) is not granted, the very purpose of filing this suit will be defeated and may amount to a multiplicity of proceedings. Therefore, without allowing AI (Interlocutory Application) No. 1, as an interim measure for the limited period TI may be granted under certain conditions,” the Judge said in the order.The court subsequently ordered that the defendants be prevented from sharing or circulating material deemed false, malicious or defamatory in relation to Toxic.“Therefore, an exparte temporary injunction is issued against the defendants not to communicate, publish, circulate, share, publish, transmit, provide access to or otherwise communicate in any form of media any false, malicious, defamatory or derogatory news related to the movie ‘Toxic’; whether before or after its release,” it added.However, the order does not prohibit genuine reviews or criticism of the film.

The toxic order will remain in effect until September 28

The court has specified that the precautionary measure will remain in force only until the next hearing date, scheduled for September 28.The court has also clarified that the order cannot be used for any purpose other than that for which it was granted. Furthermore, if the plaintiff does not comply with the conditions imposed by the court, the temporary order will be voided without notice.