Delhi High Court orders crackdown on piracy of Story TV content

MUMBAI: The plot twist came not on screen, but in court. In a significant win for India’s fast-growing microdrama industry, the Delhi High Court has stepped in to protect original digital content, ordering a swift crackdown on platforms accused of illegally distributing shows from Story TV. The court granted ex parte ad interim relief to Greenhorn Wellness Private Limited, the operator of Story TV, in a copyright and trademark infringement suit against a network of websites, Telegram channels and unidentified operators allegedly involved in the unauthorised distribution of the platform’s content.

In an order passed on 29 May 2026 in CS(COMM) 618/2026, Justice Jyoti Singh restrained the defendants from hosting, streaming, distributing, downloading, indexing, publishing or otherwise exploiting Story TV’s copyrighted content through websites, mobile applications, Telegram channels and other digital platforms.

According to the suit, Story TV discovered during the third week of May 2026 that several rogue platforms, including microtv.my.id, microtv.one and reeltv.buzz, were allegedly making its original microdrama content available to users without authorisation. The platforms reportedly allowed users to stream and download content outside Story TV’s official ecosystem.

The court noted that the alleged piracy network extended beyond direct hosting. One of the platforms was said to function as an indexing and redirection service, while Telegram channels were allegedly being used to circulate infringing links, fulfil user requests for specific series and funnel traffic towards unauthorised websites.

Recognising the scale and sophistication of the alleged infringement, the court directed that the identified URLs be taken down within 36 hours of receiving the order. Domain registrars were also instructed to block or suspend the associated domain names within the same timeframe, submit compliance affidavits and disclose details of the individuals or entities operating the websites.

Telegram FZ-LLC has similarly been directed to suspend or block the channels named in the order and file a compliance affidavit before the court.

The ruling arrives at a crucial moment for India’s emerging microdrama sector, where short-form, mobile-first storytelling is attracting growing audiences and investment. As the industry expands, concerns around piracy and unauthorised distribution have become increasingly pressing.

The order reflects a broader judicial recognition of how modern digital piracy operates often through interconnected networks of websites, messaging platforms and indexing services designed to evade enforcement measures.

Story TV was represented by advocates Mohit Goel, Sidhant Goel, Abhishek Kotnala, Kartikeya Tandon and Arpit Pundit of Sim and San Attorneys at Law, while senior advocate J Sai Deepak appeared on behalf of the company.

For India’s microdrama platforms, the message is clear, when it comes to protecting original content, the courts are ready to ensure that the final episode belongs to the creators, not the pirates.