Humans of New York Founder Criticizes Indian Spinoff Accounts Over Legal Dispute
Brandon Stanton, the creator of the immensely popular photography project Humans of New York, has recently voiced his opinion on a legal dispute involving two spinoff accounts in India. Stanton criticized one of the accounts, Humans of Bombay, for suing another similar platform, People of India, for copyright infringement. He accused Humans of Bombay of “appropriation” and questioned the double standards of an account inspired by his work suing another for the same thing.
Humans of Bombay, founded by Karishma Mehta in 2014 as a Facebook page, has filed a claim against People of India for allegedly replicating their content and business model. The Delhi High Court issued a summons order in the case, stating that there is a “substantial imitation” of Humans of Bombay’s content. Humans of Bombay currently has 2.7 million followers on Instagram, while People of India has 1.5 million followers on its English-language page. Both platforms share photos and stories of people, similar to Humans of New York.
The court summons presented screenshots submitted by Humans of Bombay, showing apparent similarities between their content and that of People of India. However, the authenticity of these images could not be independently verified. Intellectual property expert Dev Saif Gangjee explained that copyright law protects detailed expression but cannot protect an idea or approach to doing business.
Humans of Bombay relies on advertising for up to 60% of its revenue and has collaborated with brands like Netflix, OkCupid, and WhatsApp in the past. Mehta, the founder, expressed her desire to focus more on storytelling and meaningful conversations rather than selling ads in the future. Stanton criticized the accounts that monetize the stories they feature, stating that art motivated by profit loses its artistic essence.
Stanton’s statement garnered international attention and sparked discussions about the appropriation of his original concept by other platforms. Many Indians expressed their agreement with Stanton, pointing out the conceptual similarities between Humans of Bombay and Humans of New York. Stanton acknowledged that his project has inspired numerous spinoff accounts worldwide but praised Humans of Amsterdam for staying faithful to his original concept.
The legal dispute between Humans of Bombay and People of India will continue in the Delhi High Court, with the next hearing scheduled for October 11. Stanton’s input in the matter has shed light on the complexities surrounding copyright infringement and the challenges faced by creators in the digital age.