Delhi High Court Blocks 20 Rogue Websites Streaming DAZN's Serie A Football Matches

The Court also allowed DAZN to have newly discovered mirror sites blocked in real time.

Justice Tejas Karia passed the ad-interim order on October 12 in a suit filed by DAZN Limited, which seeks a permanent injunction against infringement of its broadcast reproduction rights.

DAZN told the Court that it holds exclusive global media rights, covering television, digital and ancillary rights, in the Serie A season that began on August 21, 2026. The rights were granted by Lega Calcio Serie A, and DAZN relies on a Rights Confirmation Letter dated August 21, 2026.

It argued that the defendant websites host and disseminate live sporting events without authorisation, and that they stream DAZN's own feeds by circumventing its exclusive streaming mechanism. The services, it said, are not geo-restricted and are freely accessible across India, including Delhi.

DAZN also pointed out that when such services are injuncted, many more websites surface during the course of the event. It therefore sought real-time blocking of other rogue websites. Domain name registrars were arrayed to block the sites and disclose registrant details, while the Department of Telecommunications, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and ISPs were impleaded to enforce compliance.

Finding a prima facie case, the Court said the apprehended unauthorised streaming of the remaining matches “shall pose a significant threat to the Plaintiffs' revenue streams undermining the value of the considerable investment made by the Plaintiff in acquiring the Licensed Rights.”

The Court added that the broadcast content, “including footage, commentary, and other composite elements, is fully safeguarded under the Act,” so unauthorised use would infringe the copyright protections attached to it.

On the urgency of relief, the Court observed that the “need for immediate relief is particularly pressing in this case, considering the live broadcast of the Event.” It further held that any delay in blocking access could lead to financial losses for the Plaintiff, and an irreparable breach of the Licensed Rights.

The Court relied on its earlier decision in Universal City Studios LLC v. Dotmovies.baby, where it first granted a 'Dynamic+' injunction. It reproduced the observation there that “owing to the nature of the illegalities that rogue websites indulge in, there is a need to pass injunctions which are also dynamic qua the Plaintiffs as well.” It also noted the earlier caution that such relief is not available in every case and depends on the facts placed before the Court.

The Court restrained the 20 defendant websites, along with their owners, officers, employees and anyone acting on their behalf, from hosting, streaming, broadcasting, rebroadcasting, making available or otherwise communicating to the public any part of the Serie A season without authorisation.

Domain name registrars were directed to block and suspend the listed domains immediately upon service of the order, and to file a sealed or password-protected affidavit within four weeks disclosing registrant details, including email addresses, mobile numbers, payment details and KYC details. ISPs were directed to block the websites, and the DoT and MeITY were told to issue the necessary directions to all ISPs.

If DAZN discovers further websites unauthorisedly streaming the content during the season, it may communicate their details to the registrars and ISPs, who must block them on a real time basis without undue delay.

The DoT and MeITY must issue blocking orders immediately on receiving such details. DAZN must file affidavits listing the newly blocked websites, domain names, registrars and URLs, and apply to implead them so that the order can be extended to them.

Any website that is not primarily an infringing one and gets blocked may approach the Court with an undertaking that it will not illegally disseminate the licensed content, and the Court will consider modifying the injunction.

The matter will next be heard on January 25, 2027, and before the Joint Registrar on December 16, 2026.

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

For Defendant: Advocates Satya Ranjan Swain, Kautilya Birat, Tushar Hazrait & Sanskar Gupta for D21&22.