High Court
Plea against Jio’s free offer coming up in HC
MUMBAI: The Delhi High Court will be hearing a plea filed by Vodafone India alleging that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had failed to stop Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd’s (RJio)’s what it called “blatant violation” of tariff orders, directions and regulations by allowing it to go on with its free offers.
On 30 January, Vodafone had moved the court alleging that TRAI failed to implement the telecom department’s (DoT) circulars.
Earlier, Idea Cellular and Bharti Airtel had moved TDSAT (Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal) alleging that TRAI had been a mute spectator to the violations committed by Jio.
Race in the telecom industry meanwhile is getting intense. Airtel may now let customers enjoy free domestic roaming.The new offer seems to be in response to Jio’s introduction of new pricing plan. Airtel has reportedly decided to do away with national roaming charges on its network for both, internet services and calls. A formal announcement is yet to be made. The decision would benefit Airtel’s about 268 million customers.
Meantime, a PwC report said the road ahead for Indian M&A seemed to be brightly illuminated. As per the report, PTI reported, the recent deals indicated an imminent need for consolidation in various sectors, sale of distressed assets by debt-laden companies and simplification of widely dispersed group companies. The report stated several sectors in India are in consolidation mode. For instance, it said, the telecom sector (Reliance Communications announced the acquisition of MTS India from Sistema).
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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.
