High Court
SET gets HC injunction in anti-piracy drive
MUMBAI: As the World Cup gets into overdrive, Sony Entertainment is getting increasingly aggressive on the issue of piracy. What has given further teeth to SET’s efforts is a Delhi High Court injunction secured last Friday, which “restrains anyone from getting the unauthorised signal of either Sony or MAX.”
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, SET-Discovery India Pvt Ltd president Shantonu Aditya says two teams operating out of Mumbai and New Delhi are coordinating “pirate busting” activities. “In the last one month we have conducted raids across the country, Aditya says. Lawyers have been stationed in 30 cities across the country assigned for just this task, he added.
Aditya also said that raids in Surat and Baroda in the western Indian state of Gujarat had been effective in curbing the menace. He revealed that there was another one planned for Wednesday in a city in central India.
What with the Super Sixes line-up that was settled today including two unlikely entrants in Kenya and Zimbabwe, India’s entry into the semi-finals is as good as certain. So expect more cat and mouse games between SET and recalcitrant operators.
High Court
Delhi HC blocks illegal IPL 2026 streams, backs JioStar rights
Court orders swift takedowns, expands crackdown on piracy apps
NEW DELHI: In a timely move ahead of the cricketing season, the Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to JioStar India Private Limited, clamping down on illegal streaming of the TATA Indian Premier League 2026.
The court passed ex parte ad interim injunctions in two separate suits, restraining rogue websites and mobile applications from broadcasting IPL matches without authorisation. The tournament is set to begin on 28 March, making the timing of the order particularly significant.
Recognising JioStar’s exclusive digital and broadcast rights for the IPL cycle from 2023 to 2027, the court observed that unauthorised streaming would infringe its statutory and proprietary rights, potentially causing irreparable losses.
In one case, the court directed several identified websites to immediately stop hosting or streaming IPL content. It also issued a dynamic injunction, allowing JioStar to flag new infringing platforms in real time, which must then be blocked swiftly by domain registrars and internet service providers.
In a parallel order, the court turned its attention to piracy through mobile apps, particularly Android-based platforms distributing content via APK files. A broader dynamic+ injunction was granted, extending to future variants, mirror links and related interfaces, signalling a tougher stance on evolving piracy tactics.
The court also directed domain name registrars to suspend offending domains and share registrant details, including KYC and payment information. Internet service providers and telecom operators have been instructed to block access within strict timelines, in some instances within 36 hours. Both the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology have been asked to facilitate enforcement through necessary notifications.
Noting the fast-changing nature of digital piracy, the court emphasised the need for real-time enforcement tools to keep pace with anonymous and constantly shifting networks. It also underlined the commercial impact of piracy on legitimate rights holders.
The ruling reinforces the judiciary’s firm stance on protecting intellectual property in the digital age. For viewers, it is a reminder to stick to official platforms as the IPL season kicks off under tighter watch.
