Delhi HC Halts Streaming of ‘Spider-Man: Across The SpiderVerse’ on Rogue Websites

The Delhi High Court has recently has issued a restraining order against more than 100 illicit websites that were involved in streaming or hosting the highly anticipated animated film “Spider-Man: Across the SpiderVerse” & its prequel “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”

On May 29, Justice C Hari Shankar, in his order, directed internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to these websites. Additionally, the government authorities were instructed to issue a notification regarding this matter.

The Court ordered that, “Defendants 1 to 101 (rogue websites), as well as all others acting on their behalf, are restrained from posting, streaming, reproducing, distributing or making available to the public, on their websites, or through the internet, in any manner whatsoever, any cinematograph work/content/program in which the plaintiff has copyright, including the films “Spider-Man: Across The SpiderVerse” and “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse.”

Justice Hari Shankar passed this order while addressing a suit filed by Sony Pictures Animation Inc., affirming their status as the copyright holder of the movie.

Sony emphasized that the film “Spider-Man: Across The SpiderVerse” is scheduled for release on June 2, and despite the movie’s copyright and broadcasting rights solely belonging to Sony, various illicit websites have been promoting the impending broadcast.

After considering the case, the Court acknowledged the existence of a prima facie case in favor of Sony. As a result, an interim injunction order was issued.

The Bench has also issued a summon for the suit and scheduled the case for further deliberation before the joint registrar on July 31.