Digital
Leading with purpose creates wins for consumers, community and country: Hina Nagarajan of Diageo India
Delhi HC orders OTT platforms to ensure accessibility features in movies
The court also directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to expedite the creation of comprehensive guidelines to regulate accessibility features across electronic media content.
The order comes amid a legal battle over the lack of accessible content for visually and hearing-impaired individuals on digital streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. (Image credits: Unsplash)
The Delhi High Court on Monday directed over-the-top (OTT) platforms and film producers to incorporate key accessibility features such as audio descriptions and same-language captions in films available on streaming services, reported Bar and Bench.
The mandate applies to several recent and upcoming releases, including The Buckingham Murderers, Bhool Bhulaiya 3, Shaitan, Article 370, and Kaluva. The court also made it clear that all future film releases on OTT platforms must include these accessibility elements at the time of their digital debut.
The order comes amid a legal battle over the lack of accessible content for visually and hearing-impaired individuals on digital streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, the report added.
During the hearing, Advocate Rahul Bajaj, appearing for the petitioners, argued that while a few movies have begun incorporating such features, producers must ensure this is done from the outset. He also challenged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) current advisory on the matter, pressing for a more robust regulatory framework.
Responding to the court proceedings, the Ministry informed that it is in the process of formulating official guidelines, which the Court instructed be expedited.
Advocate Saikrishna Rajgopal, representing Netflix, stated that the platform is committed to adhering to MIB's forthcoming regulations and highlighted that all Netflix Originals already come with certain accessibility features, the report added.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 17.
SPOTLIGHT
At the Storyboard18 DNPA Conclave 2025, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw spotlighted the critical role of traditional media in an evolving digital landscape. He emphasized that such gatherings can aid the govt in formulating more effective policies for a balanced and sustainable media ecosystem.
Read MoreIN PHOTOS: At Global Pioneers Summit, visionaries chart the future of business and creativity
From the chiefs of Nestle, Diageo, Colgate, PepsiCo, Zetwerk and CRED to AI visionaries, marketing mavens, top creators, ad legends and leading global agencies' CEOs, the brightest minds converged at the Storyboard18 Global Pioneers Summit for an action-packed day of meaningful dialogues on creativity, commerce and culture.