Dispute Between Way2News and AppsForBharat

The Bengaluru Commercial Court has issued a directive preventing Way2News from accessing and using confidential information, intellectual property, and data belonging to the devotional technology startup AppsForBharat. This temporary relief was granted in the dispute with the operator of VedaMandir. The order, reviewed by Startup Superb, was delivered on September 10 by the LXXXVII Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge in a commercial case initiated by FirstPrinciple AppsForBharat against Way2News.

The court, after hearing arguments from AppsForBharat’s legal counsel, granted an ad-interim ex parte injunction. This injunction restrains Way2News, including its directors, employees, agents, and representatives from using any confidential information owned by AppsForBharat, which encompasses intellectual property and any data acquired from a former employee, Shivam Kumar Singh. The next hearing is scheduled for October 5. This injunction is temporary and will remain in effect until the upcoming court date.

Overview of the Dispute

The conflict revolves around VedaMandir, a new devotional platform launched by Way2News that permits users to book personalised offerings, poojas, and charitable donations at temples, along with documentation and delivery of prasad. AppsForBharat has been running Sri Mandir since December 2020, a platform that similarly provides digital devotional services to connect devotees with temples and priests.

AppsForBharat alleges that Way2News has unlawfully acquired and utilised its confidential business data and intellectual property. A significant element of the case revolves around videos from Sri Mandir, which AppsForBharat claims were employed by Way2News in marketing efforts for VedaMandir around August 31. The lawsuit asserts that these videos are the intellectual property of AppsForBharat, originally uploaded to its Google Drive and internal databases on March 18. Screenshots and comparisons of this material have been submitted to the court.

Confidential Data Access Attempt

Additionally, AppsForBharat presented evidence of a confidential data access attempt made on August 25 from an account associated with the Way2News domain. This request sought entry into a folder containing user data and videos, sent from the official Way2News email of the former employee. AppsForBharat characterised this request as an attempt to gain access to sensitive proprietary information and trade secrets.

In response to the allegations, Way2News refuted any claim of accessing or using confidential information. They indicated that the disputed Google Drive access was linked to an outdated connection associated with Singh’s employment. According to Way2News, Singh had accidentally accessed this link and later left legacy WhatsApp groups from his former job. The company asserts that there was no intention to obtain, transfer, or utilise the confidential information belonging to AppsForBharat.

Way2News also stated that they have not yet received any court orders regarding this matter. The startup has leaned on confidentiality agreements established with the former employee, which encompass business, technical, financial, customer, supplier, and marketing data. They have pursued permanent injunctions against the usage or disclosure of their confidential information and intellectual property, as well as the return of this material, an account of profits, and a compensation claim of Rs 1 crore.