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The Delhi High Court has passed an ex parte ad interim injunction restraining several rogue websites from illegally streaming or making available Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd.'s exclusive sports broadcasts, including ongoing international cricket tours and other marquee sporting events.
The Court also directed domain name registrars (DNRs), internet service providers (ISPs), the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to immediately block access to the infringing websites and suspend their domain names. Justice Jyoti Singh held that Sony had made out a prima facie case for the grant of interim relief, observing that piracy of copyrighted broadcasts poses a recurring threat and must be dealt with firmly. The Court said any delay in blocking access to the infringing websites would result in irreparable injury to Sony's exclusive copyright and broadcasting rights, particularly as the India Tour of England (Men's) 2026 and India Tour of England (Women's) 2026 are currently underway. Pending further hearing, the Court restrained several Defendants and anyone acting on their behalf from communicating, hosting, streaming, screening, disseminating or making available for viewing or downloading any part of the sporting events on any electronic or digital platform without authorisation. The Court further directed the concerned domain name registrars to immediately block and suspend the domain names of the identified rogue websites. It also ordered the registrars to file sealed affidavits within four weeks disclosing the registrant details, including email addresses, contact information and KYC records available with them. Internet Service Providers and Telecom Service Providers were directed to block access to these websites immediately upon receiving a copy of the order, while the DoT and MeitY were directed to issue necessary directions to all ISPs for blocking or removing access to the identified websites. Recognising the dynamic nature of online piracy, the Court also granted Sony liberty to identify additional rogue websites discovered during the currency of the sporting events. Upon such intimation, the DNRs, ISPs and government authorities have been directed to immediately block those websites as well. Sony has been directed to file affidavits and implead the newly discovered websites before the Court. According to Sony's complaint, the company, formerly known as Culver Max Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd., is part of the Sony Group and owns exclusive broadcasting and media rights for several international sporting events, including the India and New Zealand tours of England, the Asia Cup tournaments, The Hundred, the Asian Games 2026, the India Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 and other international cricket events. It claimed that the identified websites were illegally streaming its copyrighted broadcasts without authorisation, thereby infringing its exclusive broadcast reproduction rights under the Copyright Act, 1957. Sony contended that the defendant websites are "rogue websites" whose primary purpose is to facilitate unauthorised streaming of copyrighted sports broadcasts. It alleged that the operators conceal their identities through domain privacy services and systematically make infringing content available to users, causing substantial commercial losses to the broadcaster. The Court issued summons in the suit, with the matter directed to be placed before the Joint Registrar on August 4, 2026, while the application seeking interim injunction has been listed before the Court on October 9, 2026. (ANI)
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