India-South Africa cricket series: Delhi High Court restrains rogue websites from streaming JioStar content

The Delhi High Court has granted ex parte interim injunction to JioStar against unauthorised streaming of the ongoing India - South Africa cricket series and the upcoming India - New Zealand series in 2026 by rogue websites and mobile apps [Jiostar India Private Limited Vs Cricfy Tv & Ors.]..JioStar submitted that it owns the exclusive global digital media rights and television rights in relation to various cricket matches organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC), including the ongoing South Africa Tour of India 2025 and the upcoming New Zealand series in 2026. However, JioStar’s exclusive rights were being infringed by rogue websites and mobile applications which were streaming its cricket broadcast without permission or authorisation, the Court was told. .In the order passed on November 11, Justice Tejas Karia observed that JioStar secured exclusive rights to broadcast cricket matches through considerable financial investment and that piracy of its copyrighted content presents a recurring threat to JioStar and violate its exclusive rights.“The apprehension of the unauthorized dissemination, telecasting, or broadcasting of the Events on Defendants’ Applications shall pose a significant threat to the Plaintiff’s revenue streams undermining the value of the considerable investment made by the Plaintiff in acquiring the Exclusive Rights,” the Court stated. .The Court also observed that such unauthorised streaming leads to copyright infringement since the broadcast content and commentary are protected under Copyright Act.“The broadcast content, including footage, commentary, and other composite elements, is fully safeguarded under the Copyright Act. Therefore, the unauthorized use of these elements shall also infringe upon the copyright protections accorded to the broadcast content under the Exclusive Rights,” the judge held. .Hence, if an ex-parte ad-interim injunction is not granted at this stage, irreparable harm would be caused to JioStar, the Court concluded.“Immediate interim relief is required to be granted in this case, considering the live broadcast of the Events. Any delay in blocking access to the website(s) could lead to financial losses for the Plaintiff [JioStar], and an irreparable breach of their Exclusive Rights. Therefore, swift action to prevent the alleged infringements is crucial in the present case,” the Court noted. Thus, the Court restrained four entities from hosting, streaming, reproducing, distributing or making available to the public through their websites or apps, the upcoming South Africa Tour of India 2025 and New Zealand Tour of India 2026.The Court also ordered the Domain Name Registrars to block and suspend the 8 domain names associated with the four entities. Further, the Court directed the domain name registrars and internet service providers to block and suspend the domain names associated with the infringing defendants within 72 hours. They were also directed to disclose the complete details of the operators. behind it within 4 weeks.“Such a relief is granted in the present matter as any delay in blocking the UI(s)/ website(s) would, in fact, result in considerable pecuniary loss to the Plaintiff and result in irreparable violation of the Exclusive Rights of the Plaintiff [JioStar],” the Court stated. If any further apps or websites are discovered which are unauthorizedly streaming and communicating content over which the JioStar has exclusive rights, it can communicate the details of the same to internet service providers for blocking the same, the Court added.The internet service providers would then have to block the same immediately, the Court ruled..Advocates Siddharth Chopra, Yatinder Garg, Priyansh Kohli, Ishi Singh, Shudhata Sudhir and Manish Singh appeared for JioStar.[Read order].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.