Digital18 Media Private Limited has moved to formally stake its claim over the OMG (Oh My God) franchise, issuing a public notice that has quickly become the talk of the town. The notice — published on January 10, 2026, in Atul Mohan’s Complete Cinema magazine — warns that any attempt to develop, market or produce a sequel, prequel, spin-off or other derivative work linked to OMG 2 (2023) without Digital18’s written consent will be treated as an infringement of its rights.
What Digital18 is claiming
The notice makes a legal and commercial assertion: Digital18 is the successor-in-interest to the studios business of Viacom18 Media Private Limited following a court-approved Composite Scheme of Arrangement that became effective on November 14, 2024. That, Digital18 says, makes it the joint owner and co-proprietor of all derivative and franchise rights arising from the film OMG 2 — including goodwill, brand value and public association.
Key points from the notice
- Clear prohibition: The company cautions “all persons and entities” against developing or announcing any sequel or related work connected to OMG 2 without prior written approval from Digital18.
- Broad scope: The warning covers sequels, prequels, spin-offs, remakes and any promotional material or titles that are deceptively similar to the OMG brand.
- Legal consequences: Digital18 stresses that unauthorized use would amount to infringement, misrepresentation and dilution of proprietary rights under applicable law.
Why the notice surfaced now
The move comes amid mounting industry chatter about a third installment in the franchise reportedly titled Oh My Goddess. Trade reports suggest the film stars Rani Mukerji, with Akshay Kumar expected to appear in an extended cameo echoing his screen presence in OMG 2. Bollywood Hungama reported that Oh My Goddess is slated to go on floors in February 2026 — a timeline that appears to have accelerated questions over who holds the franchise rights.
What this means for Oh My Goddess and other makers
If the reports about Oh My Goddess are accurate, the producers will need to establish clear rights or obtain a licence from Digital18 before proceeding. The notice essentially puts any third party on notice that announcing or developing a project tied to the OMG brand without written consent could invite legal action.
Practically, this could prompt production houses to pause public announcements, open negotiations with Digital18, or seek clarity through legal channels. In many franchise disputes, studios prefer to resolve matters behind the scenes — through licensing deals or co-production agreements — to avoid costly court battles and delays.
Possible next steps and industry reaction
- Studios linked to Oh My Goddess may issue statements clarifying their legal position or reveal agreements with rights holders.
- Digital18 could follow up with targeted legal notices if it believes an announcement or development violates its claimed rights.
- Producers might renegotiate credits, titles or promotional material to avoid any similarity that could be construed as dilution or misrepresentation.
What to watch for
Keep an eye out for official statements from the makers of Oh My Goddess, any public response from Digital18, and possible updates from Viacom18 about the transition of studio rights. If production goes ahead, the safest path will be a clear, documented agreement clarifying franchise ownership and revenue-sharing — something the industry increasingly prioritises in the age of high-value IP.
For now, the notice is a firm reminder that franchise properties are commercially sensitive, and that behind-the-scenes legal clarity is often as important as the creative vision when it comes to big-ticket Bollywood titles.
