The Delhi High Court has issued an order granting a dynamic+injunction in favour of Viacom18 Media, the official streamer of the Indian Premier League (IPL). This order restrains several unauthorised websites from streaming IPL events for the year 2024.
In legal terms, “dynamic+injunction” orders are passed to safeguard the copyrights, preventing any irreparable losses to the owners of copyrighted works.
The fervour surrounding IPL in India is undeniable, with numerous websites attempting to capitalise on its popularity. According to reports, Justice Sanjeev Narula emphasised the significance of developing legal solutions to address copyright infringement effectively in the digital era.
Viacom 18, which has secured exclusive digital media rights in the Indian subcontinent for IPL events from 2023 to 2027, moved court to take action against six rogue websites. Some platforms were discovered to be unlawfully airing the cricket league’s matches, scheduled to continue until the end of May, reports stated.
The court ordered these platforms to stop hosting, streaming, or providing IPL content and also directed Domain Name Registrars to lock and suspend the identified websites. Additionally, telecom service providers have been asked to block access to these websites to safeguard Viacom18’s copyright interests.
Justice Narula highlighted the importance of IPL during the proceedings. The court acknowledged that IPL is not just a sporting event but also a significant source of revenue and entertainment for the masses.
“Unauthorised dissemination, telecasting, or broadcasting of these events on various websites and digital platforms poses a significant threat to the plaintiff’s revenue streams. Such illicit activities undermine the value of the considerable investment made by the plaintiff in acquiring these rights,” he said.
Additionally, he pointed out that these events were being broadcasted through Viacom’s OTT platform JioCinema, which can be accessed on various digital devices. He emphasised the danger illegal streaming poses to the plaintiff’s investments and the wider implications for copyright law.
Understanding the changing nature of digital piracy, the court granted Viacom 18 the freedom to report any new rogue websites involved in similar illegal activities during the IPL season.
