High Court
Havas speaks EU fluently as Brussels taps It for five year mandate
MUMBAI: When Europe needs to explain itself, it’s turning to a familiar accent. Havas has been selected under the new Framework Contract of the European Commission, securing a five-year mandate to support strategic communication assignments for EU institutions across Member States and beyond.
The appointment positions Havas as the only France-based European communications group chosen under the framework, reinforcing its standing as a go-to player for pan-European institutional communication. The contract builds on previous mandates handled by the group for the Commission and underlines its growing influence at a continental level.
At a time when Europe’s message must travel across borders, cultures and political climates, the brief is as much about nuance as scale. Havas will deliver an integrated model coordinated by its Paris teams, combining Europe-wide strategic coherence with local execution through its network of agencies across the EU. The aim: to make European initiatives more relatable, intelligible and relevant to citizens in their everyday lives.
Havas Paris CEO Julien Carette said Europe’s diversity demands communication that connects institutions with people, not just policies with paperwork. The group’s approach, he noted, is rooted in translating complex ideas into clear narratives that resonate locally while aligning centrally.
The mandate will see Havas supporting communication around major European public policies spanning employment, justice, health, defence and economic and social transition, alongside issues such as civil liberties, shared values and the rule of law. In a fragmented media environment marked by misinformation and scepticism, the focus will be on clarity, pedagogy and dialogue grounded in facts.
Havas’ integrated structure is central to the win. Its H/Advisors platform will play a key role in reputation, influence and public diplomacy, while the group’s Converged.AI strategy brings advisory, creative and media teams together to deliver measurable outcomes. Havas Creative Europe CEO Raphaël de Andréis said institutions increasingly seek partners who can turn complexity into accessible storytelling, a space where Havas believes it has a competitive edge.
The contract also highlights Havas’ European DNA. Headquartered in Paris, listed in Amsterdam and embedded across the continent’s economic and cultural ecosystems, the group positions itself as European by both culture and structure capable of operating at scale while remaining sensitive to national realities.
Havas Group, chairman of H/Advisors and executive vice president Stéphane Fouks described the mandate as a responsibility as much as a recognition, one that reflects Europe’s values of dialogue, democracy and openness at a time when competing governance models are gaining ground.
For Havas, the Brussels nod is more than a contract win. It is a signal of trust from one of the world’s most complex institutions and a reminder that in Europe’s crowded conversation, choosing the right voice still matters.
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.
