Authority: High Court of Judicature at Bombay

Order Date: 17 September 2026 (pronounced)

Case Overview

  • Parties: Applicant – Isha Business Pvt. Ltd.; Respondents – Culture Machine Media Private Limited (Respondent No. 1), an unnamed Respondent No. 2, and Respondent No. 3 (Director of Respondents No. 1 and No. 2).
  • Agreements: (i) Content Management Service Agreement dated 20 February 2017 between Isha Business and Aleph, requiring Aleph to manage YouTube channels, collect revenue and remit it to Isha Business. (ii) Novation Agreement dated 4 January 2021 among Isha Business, Aleph and Respondent No. 1, relieving Aleph and transferring duties to Respondent No. 1. Both agreements contain a clause referring disputes to a Sole Arbitrator, venue Mumbai.
  • Dispute: Respondent No. 1 (and allegedly Respondent No. 2) failed to remit YouTube revenue. On 23 October 2023 the parties discussed payment; at that time approximately Rs 2.56 crore was due. Partial payment was made, but a balance of Rs 1,40,98,767 remained unpaid.
  • Communications: • 18 July 2023 – Assistant Vice President of Respondent No. 2 admitted delay and proposed a payment schedule. • 23 October 2023 – Respondent No. 3 confirmed the schedule via email. • 8 July 2024 – Respondent No. 2 indicated that Respondents No. 1 and 2 had been acquired by M/s Galaxy Racer, which would invest to clear dues. • 4 February 2026 – Isha Business issued a formal notice demanding payment; no reply. • 21 March 2026 – Arbitration Commencement Notice sent; no response.
  • Payment Schedule (as per email of 23 Oct 2023):

| Payment Date | Billing Month | Amount (Rs) | Status |

| 30 Oct 2023 | Apr‑23 | 3,779,188 | – |

| 30 Oct 2023 | Aug‑23 | 5,152,122 | – |

| 13 Nov 2023 | Sep‑23 | 5,000,000 | Approved |

| 17 Nov 2023 | May‑23 | 2,276,125 | – |

| 15 Dec 2023 | Jul‑23 | 4,355,435 | – |

| 15 Dec 2023 | Oct‑23 | 5,000,000 | Approved |

| Total | – | 25,562,869 | – |

  • Service: Affidavit of service shows all respondents were served; none appeared or filed any opposition.

Final Outcome

  • The Court, satisfied that an arbitration agreement exists between Isha Business and Respondent No. 1 and that a genuine dispute exists, appointed Mr Jash Gandhi as the Sole Arbitrator to adjudicate the matters arising under the 20 Feb 2017 Content Management Service Agreement and the 4 Jan 2021 Novation Agreement.
  • Procedural directions (Order A‑F):
  • A) Appointment details and contact address of the arbitrator.
  • B) Advocates for the applicant to communicate the order to the arbitrator within one week.
  • C) Arbitrator to forward statutory Statement of Disclosure (Sec 11(8) & Sec 12(1)) to applicant’s advocates for filing.
  • D) Arbitrator to forward the same disclosure to parties within two weeks of receiving the order.
  • E) Parties to appear before the arbitrator for scheduling pleadings, witness examination, hearings, and to provide functional email, mobile and landline numbers.
  • F) Arbitral costs and fees to be borne equally by the parties, subject to any final award on costs.
  • All merits‑related issues are expressly left open for determination by the appointed arbitral tribunal.

Topics: Arbitration Appointment, Unpaid YouTube Revenue