Delhi High Court Orders Immediate Blocking to Prevent Copyright Infringement, Protect Viacom 18’s Rights
The Delhi High Court has issued a dynamic+ injunction order, prohibiting several rogue websites from illegally streaming Indian Premier League (IPL) events without authorization from Viacom 18.
Justice Sanjeev Narula emphasized the necessity for robust legal remedies to combat copyright infringement in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
In a suit filed by Viacom 18 Media Private Limited, which holds exclusive digital media rights (for the Indian sub-continent) and television rights (for overseas) for IPL events from 2023 to 2027, Justice Narula issued an interim injunction order.
The upcoming TATA IPL 2024, featuring 74 T20 matches scheduled from March 22 to the end of May, prompted the court’s action.
In an order dated March 22, the court restrained six rogue websites from hosting, streaming, or making available any part of the IPL events on electronic or digital platforms. Domain Name Registrars were directed to suspend these websites, while Telecom Service Providers were instructed to block access to them.
Moreover, the court granted Viacom 18 the liberty to notify the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) of any further rogue websites discovered during the IPL events for immediate blocking.
Recognizing the widespread appeal of IPL events, particularly in the Indian subcontinent, the court highlighted the significant threat posed by unauthorized dissemination on rogue websites to Viacom’s revenue streams.
The court underscored the urgency to preemptively block access to copyrighted content on rogue websites, given their demonstrated propensity for illegal broadcasting.
Lastly, the court stressed the importance of a vigilant legal framework responsive to the challenges of digital piracy, ensuring practical enforcement of copyright and intellectual property protections.
Representing the Plaintiff were Mr. Sidharth Chopra, Mr. Yatinder Garg, Ms. Suhasini Raina, Mr. Sanidhya Maheshwari, and Mr. Priyansh Kohli, Advocates.
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