Delhi HC Restrains 40 Rogue Websites From Illegally Streaming Netflix & Other Entertainment Companies’ Content

The Delhi High Court has recently barred 40 rogue websites from streaming, hosting, or making public original copyrighted content from Netflix, Disney, Universal City Studios, and other entertainment firms.

The Court was hearing a case filed by Universal City Studios LLC, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Columbia Picture Industries, Inc., Netflix Studios LLC, Paramount Pictures Corporation, and Disney Enterprises seeking a permanent injunction against 40 rogue websites.

Justice Amit Bansal ruled that the internet and telecom service providers enforce the ruling by blocking the rogue websites, their URLs, and respective IP addresses.

The court further ordered the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications to take immediate steps and issue the necessary notifications directing all internet and telecom service providers registered under them to block the websites in question.

It was claimed that the websites engaged in online piracy by making their original content available for download and making it accessible to the public at large.

The plaintiffs claimed that despite legal notice ordering the websites to stop engaging in infringing activities, they continued to infringe their rights in the original content.

The court passed an interim injunction in favour of the entertainment firms, observing that a prima facie case had been made out in their favour and that irreparable harm or injury would be caused to them if such an order was not passed.

The case is listed for further consideration on August 29, 2023.