Delhi High Court Grants WinZO Blanket Injunction Order Against Fake Websites

Delhi High Court Grants WinZO Blanket Injunction Order Against Fake Websites

WinZO, the largest vernacular interactive entertainment platform, has taken a significant step in protecting its intellectual property by filing a lawsuit seeking a permanent injunction against the infringement of its registered trademarks by various rogue and illegal websites that were dangerously misleading digital consumers, leaving them vulnerable. These websites, including those utilizing the WinZO trademark or any mark similar thereto in their domain names, hosting .apk extensions, or operating on social media platforms, have been targeted in legal action.

Following a thorough review of the evidence, including screenshots of the infringing websites, the Delhi High Court has granted WinZO a dynamic injunction order across all such named and unnamed anonymous platforms and entities. This order effectively restrains the rogue and illegal websites, mobile apps, and social media accounts involved in the unauthorized use and infringement of WinZO trademarks.

In addition to the blanket, dynamic injunction, the Court has issued specific directives to Domain Name Registrars (DNRs) to disclose registrant details. Internet Service Providers (ISPs), along with major online platforms including Meta, and Google, and regulators such as MeitY, and DOT, have been directed to block access to these websites and other digital means through which internet users can be misled.

⮚ The Court order restrains all named and anonymous future unauthorized use of WinZO trademarks across platforms, with directives to disclose registrant details and block access to infringing websites, highlighting WinZO's commitment to protecting the billion+ digital users of Bharat.

⮚ The Court has issued directives regarding an anonymous entity, John Doe, instructing ISPs and others to take down any instance where the WinZO trademark or any infringing variant is employed.

According to said Saumya Singh Rathore, Co-Founder, WinZO, “Our priority is to ensure a seamless and trustworthy consumer experience for all consumers of the world's largest digitally connected economy with over a billion users on the internet. Today, brands have to ensure that they are continuously and closely monitoring the dynamic world of the internet to ensure that there is no misuse of their brand trust by illegal operators to mislead consumers. As entrepreneurs of new India, we aim to keep consumer protection at the heart of all our initiatives to build a safe, accountable, and trustable digital world.”

WinZO, boasting a remarkable presence in interactive entertainment with a staggering 175 million registered users domestically, has earned a well-established reputation and goodwill over the years and is recognized by the court as a well-known brand.

WinZO urges consumers and the public to remain vigilant against unauthorized acts. The company remains committed to safeguarding consumers and will continue to take necessary measures by deploying technology to ensure consumers are safe on the internet. In another tech-led initiative, WinZO had partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-D), the Delhi Technological University (DTU), the Netaji Subhash University of Technology (NSUT), and the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIITD) to launch its new cyber security program to invest in development of open-source technology and best practices that can be used by businesses, government agencies, and other organizations to protect against cyber actors that exploit vulnerabilities to steal information and money, and are developing capabilities to disrupt, destroy, or threaten the delivery of essential services. The online safety initiatives are increasingly becoming critical against the backdrop of growing internet and smartphone penetration and digital transactions across tier2-tier5 Bharat.

About WinZO:

WinZO is the largest interactive entertainment platform in India. Launched in early 2018, the Company partners with third-party developers to host games on their Android app, where users can enjoy personalized multiplayer gameplay experiences. The platform is available in 12 languages such as English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, and Bhojpuri, with over 175 million registered users. The WinZO platform facilitates over 4 billion micro-transactions per month across a portfolio of 100+ games. WinZO is focused on building an enthusiastic community of gamers and gaming influencers in Tier 2 – 5 cities in India.