The Delhi High Court 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, for which Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited has held exclusive broadcast and media rights.
The order has been passed by Justice Jyoti Singh in a suit filed by Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd. against Cricgo.pro and 36 other entities, including domain name registrars, internet service providers, the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, as per media reports.
Sony has informed the court that it has acquired exclusive television, digital and media rights for the Commonwealth Games 2026 under a Media Rights Agreement dated June 2, 2026, with Commonwealth Sport. It has also held exclusive media rights for television and online services for the Australian Open under an agreement with Tennis Australia Limited, with those rights continuing until June 30, 2028.
According to Sony, the 14 websites have been illegally streaming the ongoing Tour of England 2026. It has further submitted that three of the websites have prominently displayed the logos of Sony’s sports channels on their playback pages. Based on their previous conduct, Sony has argued that the websites were likely to stream the Commonwealth Games and the Australian Open without authorisation.
While granting relief, Justice Jyoti Singh has 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.”
The court has directed domain name registrars to suspend the domain names of the 14 websites and has ordered internet service providers to block access to them. It has also directed the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to issue the necessary blocking directions to internet service providers.
Noting that the Commonwealth Games were scheduled to begin on July 23, the court has further observed, “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 has also allowed Sony to 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 covered under its copyrights during the two sporting events. Upon receiving such intimation, the concerned authorities have been directed to immediately block the websites. Sony has subsequently been required to file affidavits furnishing details of the websites and applications to implead them in the suit.
The court has clarified that if a website that is not primarily engaged in infringement is blocked under 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 has been listed before the Joint Registrar on August 10, 2026, and before the court on November 18, 2026.
