Zee Entertainment Sues Nykaa Over Copyright Infringement in Instagram Reels

Zee Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against fashion and beauty retailer Nykaa in the Delhi High Court, alleging the unauthorized use of its copyrighted music in promotional Instagram reels. Zee argues that while its licensing agreement with Meta allows individuals to use its music for non-commercial purposes, Nykaa exploited the content to market products to its millions of followers without securing the necessary permissions. The media giant is seeking approximately 20 million rupees ($210,000) in damages for the alleged infringement.

During a recent preliminary hearing, Nykaa’s legal counsel informed the court that the 12 specific video links flagged by Zee had already been taken down. The lawsuit, which spans over 900 pages, highlights a growing tension between content owners and brands that use popular music as background audio for short-form social media advertisements. Both companies have currently declined to comment officially on the ongoing litigation as the case moves forward.

Legal experts suggest that this case could set a significant precedent for digital marketing in India, providing much-needed clarity on the “fine print” of social media music libraries. Many corporate marketing departments frequently use trending audio without realizing that standard user licenses often exclude commercial or brand-building activities. The Delhi High Court is scheduled to resume hearings on the matter on May 26.