Book divulging protected confidential information and trade secrets restrained from publication

Delhi High Court orders defendants to refrain from publishing book disclosing confidential information and trade secrets of plaintiff, and to halt its promotion on social media.

The suit was brought by Granada Services against the author (ex-employee) and publisher of a book, which if published would breach confidentiality and divulge trade secrets of the company.

Due to paucity of time, in a novel move, service of summons was effected on the defendants via Facebook, WhatsApp and email, in addition to regular court channels.

Resultantly, within two days, the author of the book appeared in court. While the publisher of the book undertook by email stating that it shall not publish the book and it had already stopped the process of publishing. It also removed the link of the extract of the book from its website and also asked the author of the book to refrain from launching the book.

The court ordered the defendants to refrain from publishing the book and from making any mention of the book (including excerpts) or of the plaintiff on social media.

Granada Services Private Limited v Ankit Raj & Anr; before the Delhi High Court; order dated 20.12.2017