'Piracy Must Be Dealt With A Heavy Hand': Delhi High Court Grants Sony Relief Against 14 Rogue Websites

The Delhi High Court has observed that rogue websites engaged in piracy of copyrighted content pose a recurring threat and must be dealt with "a heavy hand."

It has granted an ex parte ad interim injunction restraining 14 websites, including Cricgo.pro, from communicating, hosting, streaming or otherwise making available without authorisation any part of the Commonwealth Games 2026 and the Australian Open 2027, over which Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited holds exclusive broadcast and media rights.

Justice Jyoti Singh passed the order on July 20 in a suit filed by Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd. against Cricgo.pro and 36 other entities. This included domain name registrars, internet service providers, the Department of Telecommunications, and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

The court observed, "The issue of rogue websites engaged in piracy of copyrighted content is posing a recurring threat and there is no gain saying that piracy must be curbed and needs to be dealt with a heavy hand."

Sony informed the court that it had acquired exclusive television, digital and media rights for the Commonwealth Games 2026 under a Media Rights Agreement dated June 2, 2026 with the event organiser, Commonwealth Sport.

The Games are scheduled to commence on July 23, 2026. The broadcaster also holds exclusive media rights for television and online services in the Australian Open under an agreement with Tennis Australia Limited, with those rights continuing until June 30, 2028.

According to Sony, the 14 websites had been illegally streaming the ongoing Tour of England 2026. The content playback pages of three of the websites also prominently displayed the logos of Sony's sporting channels. Based on their past conduct, Sony apprehended that the websites would similarly stream the Commonwealth Games and the Australian Open without authorisation.

Noting that the Commonwealth Games were scheduled to begin on July 23, the court further held, "Delay in blocking access to

Defendants' websites and/or any other rogue websites indulging in illegal and unlawful activities, would lead to an irreparable breach of Plaintiff's copyrights, as aforementioned, apart from revenue loss and cause irreparable damage and injury"

The court directed the domain name registrars to suspend the domain names of the 14 websites. It also directed internet service providers to block access to them. The Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology were directed to issue the necessary blocking directions to internet service providers.

During the currency of the two sporting events, Sony may notify the domain name registrars, internet service providers, the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of any newly discovered websites found to be unauthorisedly streaming or communicating content over which it holds copyrights.

Upon receiving such intimation, those entities have been directed to immediately block the websites. Sony must thereafter file affidavits furnishing details of the websites and applications to implead them in the suit.

The court also clarified that if a website that is not primarily an infringing website is blocked pursuant to the order, it may approach the court for modification after furnishing an undertaking that it will not illegally disseminate content over which Sony has exclusive rights.

The matter is scheduled before the Joint Registrar on August 10, 2026, and before the court on November 18, 2026.