Delhi High Court Restrains Rogue Websites From Unauthorisedly Streaming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024

Delhi High Court Restrains Rogue Websites From Unauthorisedly Streaming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024

The Delhi High Court recently restrained various rogue websites from unauthorisedly and illegally streaming the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024.

According to the Court, Star India Private Limited (the plaintiff) made out a prima facie case for the grant of an interim injunction.

Considering the T20 format and short duration of the matches, Justice Sanjeev Narula observed the need for immediate relief was particularly demanding in the case.

The Court highlighted the urgent need for relief, especially due to the T20 format's fast-paced nature and the brevity of the matches, the court highlighted the potential for significant financial losses and irreparable breach of broadcast reproduction rights if access to these rogue websites isn't promptly blocked.

The Court directed Domain Name Registrars to provide full details of the rogue websites and instructed Internet Service Providers and Telecom Service Providers to block access to them. It also granted the plaintiff the liberty to report any further illegally streaming websites during the ICC Events to relevant authorities for immediate action.

Justice Narula acknowledged the broad appeal of the ICC Events, particularly in the Indian subcontinent, where they are broadcasted through Star channels and the OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar, accessible on various digital devices. The court recognized the recurring threat posed by rogue websites engaging in piracy and emphasized the necessity for legal orders to evolve with Technological Advancements to effectively combat copyright infringement in the digital landscape.

The court stressed the proactive role of courts in adapting legal measures to address evolving challenges, ensuring that intellectual property rights remain enforceable and practical in safeguarding the interests of rightful owners amidst the ever-changing digital piracy landscape.

The Delhi High Court has taken action to restrain several unauthorized websites from illegally streaming the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. Justice Sanjeev Narula noted that Star India Private Limited, the plaintiff, has presented a strong case for granting an interim injunction.

The Court held, “Based on past instances of illegal dissemination of major sporting events, the Plaintiff strongly apprehends that once the ICC Events commence, given their status as one of the most popular sporting events in the world, a large number of websites, including but not limited to Defendants No. 1 to 9, are likely to indulge in unauthorised disseminations and communications of the cricket matches and parts thereof on online platforms. The strong apprehension and eminent threat is borne by the fact the rouge betting websites are already promoting the T20 World Cup on their platform. Additionally, Plaintiff believes that a large number of rogue betting websites, upon being blocked/ taken down, may also create further mirror websites to continue the illegal transmission/ communication/ broadcast of the ICC.”

It further observed, “The Court recognizes the widespread appeal and significance of the ICC Events, particularly in the Indian subcontinent. These events are broadcasted through the Plaintiff’s Star channels and the OTT platform ‘Disney+ Hotstar’, which is accessible across a variety of digital devices including computers, smartphones, tablets, and other electronic gadgets. The Plaintiff has secured the digital and television broadcasting rights for these events, as specified in the Agreement, through substantial financial investment. Unauthorized dissemination, telecasting, or broadcasting of these events on various websites and digital platforms poses a significant threat to the Plaintiff’s revenue streams. Such illicit activities undermine the value of the considerable investment made by the Plaintiff in acquiring these rights. Additionally, the broadcast content, including footage, commentary, and other composite elements, is fully safeguarded under the Copyright Act. Thus, the unauthorized use of these elements not only affects the financial returns but also infringes upon the copyright protections accorded to the broadcast content. It is thus imperative to recognize the legal rights associated with the creation and dissemination of this content, emphasizing the need for stringent measures to prevent unauthorized broadcasts and safeguard the Plaintiff’s interests. The issue of rogue websites engaging in the piracy of copyrighted content presents a recurring threat, especially with the imminent ICC Events. These sites have demonstrated a propensity to illegally broadcast copyrighted works, underscoring the urgency to pre-emptively block their access to such content. Consequently, there’s a critical need for judicial intervention to prohibit these rogue websites from disseminating or communicating any portions of the cricket matches/ ICC Events without proper authorization or licensing from the Plaintiff.”