Delhi High Court Grants Dynamic Injunction To JioStar Against Rogue Websites Streaming ICC World Cups

The order was passed by Justice Jyoti Singh on January 29, 2026, while hearing an interim injunction application in a suit filed by JioStar seeking protection of its broadcast reproduction rights in relation to the cricket events.

Noting the need for immediate relief as the tournaments were ongoing and imminent, the Court observed that, “The issue of rogue websites engaged in piracy of copyrighted content is posing a recurring threat and there is no gainsaying that piracy must be curbed and needs to be dealt with a heavy hand.”

JioStar told the Court that it is a leading entertainment and media company operating over 100 television channels across multiple languages, along with its OTT platform JioHotstar. It holds exclusive television and digital media rights in India for various ICC events under a media rights agreement executed in 2022, including the said ICC cricket matches.

The company alleged that several websites were unlawfully streaming matches and related broadcast content without authorisation. It was submitted that these platforms are habitual infringers whose business model is built around systematic and organised piracy and that such unauthorised dissemination severely undermines the value of the exclusive rights acquired by JioStar at substantial cost.

After examining the material on record, the Court held that JioStar had made out a prima facie case for interim protection. It observed that the balance of convenience lay in favour of the rights holder and that continued unauthorised streaming of sporting events would cause irreparable harm.

The Court also noted that JioStar enjoys broadcast reproduction rights under the Copyright Act, 1957, and that any unauthorised communication of the broadcast content would amount to infringement.

“The unauthorized dissemination, telecast or broadcast of the 'Events' by Defendants No. 1 to 7 prima facie infringes the rights of the Plaintiff, which it is entitled to protect. Additionally, broadcast content, including footage, commentary etc. are also required to be safeguarded,” the Court said.

Referring to the ruling of Universal City Studios LLC v. Dotmovies Baby, the Court granted a dynamic injunction, recognising the tendency of rogue websites to reappear through mirror or redirect domains.

Consequently, the Court restrained the identified websites and all persons acting on their behalf from hosting, streaming, broadcasting or making available any part of the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026 and the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 on any electronic or digital platform without authorisation.

The Court directed domain name registrars to suspend and block the infringing domain names, while internet service providers were ordered to disable access to the websites with immediate effect. Registrars were also directed to disclose available registration and KYC details of the websites in a sealed cover.

The Court further permitted JioStar to notify domain registrars and internet service providers of any newly discovered infringing websites during the currency of the tournaments, with the injunction automatically extending to such websites upon compliance with procedural requirements.

For Plaintiff: Advocates Sidharth Chopra, Yatinder Garg, Priyansh Kohli, Manish Singh and Ishi Singh