Delhi High Court Blocks Piracy Websites From Streaming Amazon's Kunal Kemmu, Preity Zinta Film 'VIBE'

The Delhi High Court has restrained 11 piracy websites, including Cinevood, PVRPlay and 1TamilMV, from hosting, streaming or otherwise making Amazon's upcoming film “VIBE” available online without authorisation, ahead of its scheduled theatrical release.

Justice Jyoti Singh passed the ex parte ad interim order on September 15 in a suit filed by Amazon Seller Services Private Limited. The film is scheduled for a pan-India theatrical release on September 18, 2026.

“VIBE” is written and directed by Kunal Kemmu, who also stars in the film alongside actors including Preity G. Zinta. Amazon told the court that it is the first and exclusive owner of the film's rights, including copyright.

The company said it had commissioned Drongo Films LLP for the film's development and production under a “work made for hire” arrangement. Agreements between the parties provide that the rights in the film vest in Amazon upon creation and allow it to enforce those rights against infringement.

Amazon's counsel argued that the 11 websites were primarily engaged in making copyrighted content available without permission. The company relied on past instances involving films including “Nishaanchi”, “Mirzapur” and “Bhool Chuk Maaf”, saying infringing copies had been made available for viewing and downloading on various websites within hours of their theatrical releases.

Counsel submitted that theatrical exhibition is the “most important stage in the life of a film”, as its commercial value depends substantially on its popularity and success during that period. Amazon argued that piracy during this window could affect its theatrical business, erode the film's value and interfere with its subsequent exploitation on OTT platforms.

Amazon also pointed out that one of the websites had already listed “VIBE” under a “coming soon” category. Several others claimed they would update their platforms with new titles upon users' requests.

The company further told the court that the websites used services to mask their operators' identities and server locations. Their WHOIS particulars were incomplete, incorrect, or unresponsive, while takedown notices sent on September 7 received no response.

The court held that Amazon had made out a prima facie case for an ex parte ad interim injunction. It found that the balance of convenience lay in Amazon's favour and that the company was likely to suffer irreparable harm if the injunction was not granted.

The court observed that the websites “appear to be intentionally and systematically uploading vast volume of infringing content”. It noted that no contact details pertaining to them were publicly available and that, on perusal of their names and homepages, they were “perhaps pseudonymous.”

The domain registrars were directed to lock and suspend the websites' domain names within 36 hours of receiving a copy of the order. Internet service providers were directed to block the websites forthwith, while the Department of Telecommunications and MeitY were directed to issue necessary notifications to the ISPs within 36 hours.

Amazon can also notify the concerned authorities of any other website found to be unauthorisedly streaming or communicating “VIBE”, for real-time blocking.

A website that is not primarily infringing Amazon's exclusive rights can approach the court with an undertaking and seek modification of the injunction.

The matter is next listed before the Joint Registrar on October 7, 2026, and before the court on January 19, 2027.