High Court
Delhi High Court orders release of all seized Tata Sky STBs
MUMBAI: The Delhi High Court directed the centre on Monday to release all the Tata Sky set-top boxes, barring five pieces, which were seized by the government for not displaying the maximum retail price.
A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice AJ Bhambani, in an interim order, directed the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to release the over six lakh STBs it had seized in January but allowed it to keep five of those for continuing with its probe.
Issuing the direction, the bench said the government's decision was "prima facie arbitrary" and resulted not only in a financial loss to the direct broadcast satellite television provider, but also affected consumers who could not shift to the new STBs.
"Here, the arbitrariness is writ large on the face of it," the bench added.
It said the proceedings initiated by the government might go on in accordance with law and the company would participate in it.
With the directions, the bench listed the matter for further hearing on 27 July.
According to PTI reports the interim order came on Tata Sky's plea challenging the seizure of its STBs for not displaying the MRP.
The company, in its petition, has also challenged the constitutional validity of a rule, which makes it mandatory to display the MRP on STBs.
Besides seeking setting aside of the 17 January seizure report, Tata Sky has also requested that Rule 4 of the Legal Metrology Rules, which makes declaring the MRP on STBs mandatory, be quashed.
It has also sought quashing of a 9 August 2018 circular by which the rule was made applicable to STBs.
The company has contended that it is not required to declare the MRP on STBs as those fall under the definition of "industrial-consumer" according to the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011.
It has also said that since the STBs are not for sale, there is no need to indicate the MRP on those.
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.
