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SPN obtains Delhi HC injunction order to protect copyright of India-England cricket series
Mumbai: Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) has obtained a Dynamic John Doe injunction order from the Delhi high court to prevent copyright infringement for the India-England international cricket series in July. This will protect SPN against unauthorised and illegal IP disclosure on the internet and other social media platforms.
As per the Dynamic John Doe order, certain multi-system operators (MSO), local cable operators (LCO) and websites/uniform resource locators (URLs) are prohibited from communicating and broadcasting to the public the cricketing series due to their indulgence in piracy and infringing SPN’s copyright in the broadcast and digital transmission rights for the cricketing series.
The said order prohibits the websites/URLs in any manner, from hosting, streamlining, reproducing, distributing, making available to the public and/or communicating to the public or facilitating the same on their websites, through the internet in any manner whatsoever, any cinematograph work, content, programme or event in which SPN has copyright.
The said order further prohibits MSOs and LCOs from in any manner hosting, streaming, reproducing, distributing, broadcasting, making available to the public and/or communicating to the public any unauthorised and unlicensed reproduction or broadcast on the local channels or through other means of various copyrighted content, including but not limited to the cricketing series through cable network.
Further, in general, various internet service providers (ISPs) are directed to block access to the websites/URLs. If SPN discovers any other websites / MSOs/LCOs infringing its copyrights in respect of the cricketing series, it can approach the Delhi high court under this John Doe Order and seek requisite reliefs. In addition, a local commissioner has also been appointed to enforce the provisions of the said order against MSOs/LCOs indulging in piracy by unauthorizedly distributing or transmitting/communicating/redistributing the cricketing series without a valid license from SPN.
SPN had acquired an exclusive license from the England and Wales Cricket Board Limited (ECB) to broadcast/communicate the India-England series to the public in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and the Maldives in 2021.
However, the series had to be stopped midway, after four test matches, owing to rising Covid cases. The current John Doe Order protects SPN’s copyright for the remainder of the cricketing series, starting July 2022, which comprises one test match, three T20 matches and three one-day international matches.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
