n a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court has granted an ad interim injunction in favor of Play Games24x7, the company behind popular platforms RummyCircle and My11Circle. The court’s decision addresses concerns over allegedly biased rankings published by the Skoch Group, which Play Games24x7 contends were based on a subjective and self-created gaming framework.

Play Games24x7 initiated legal action seeking a permanent and mandatory injunction against the Skoch Group and associated parties. The company alleges that an advertisement published on December 23, 2024, cast doubts on the safety and efficacy of its well-known products by ranking them unfavorably. According to the plaintiff, these rankings were derived from an arbitrary and self-serving system, leading to defamation, trade libel, and unfair competition.

The company further argued that the Skoch Group’s paid ranking system, combined with a potentially biased task force, portrayed Play Games24x7 as non-compliant with legal standards, thereby harming its reputation and goodwill.

Upon reviewing the submissions, the Delhi High Court noted that Play Games24x7 had not participated in the ranking exercise conducted by the Skoch Group. Additionally, it was observed that members from entities ranked first and second were part of the task force responsible for the rankings, raising questions about potential bias.

Justice Mini Pushkarna stated, “Prima facie case has been made out by the plaintiff. Balance of convenience also lies in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendants.” Consequently, the court directed the defendants to redact any reference to Play Games24x7’s trademarks, RummyCircle and My11Circle, from the disputed advertisement on their website and social media platforms.

This injunction underscores the judiciary’s role in addressing potential biases in industry rankings and protecting companies from potentially defamatory actions. The case highlights the importance of transparency and fairness in evaluation frameworks within the gaming industry.

The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 29, 2025, where more detailed arguments and evidence will be presented. The outcome could set a precedent for how subjective rankings are handled, especially when they impact a company’s reputation and market standing.

Credit: This article is based on information from the Delhi High Court’s order and reports from Storyboard18.

Key Highlights:

• The Delhi High Court granted an injunction favoring Play Games24x7 in a dispute over allegedly biased rankings by the Skoch Group.
• The court observed potential bias, noting that members from top-ranked entities were part of the ranking task force.
• The Skoch Group has been directed to remove references to Play Games24x7’s trademarks from the disputed advertisement.
• The case is set for further hearing on April 29, 2025.