Delhi High Court Grants Ex Parte Injunction to Dream11 Against “Come Sports” Fantasy Gaming Platforms – CS(COMM) 181/2026

Summary

The Delhi High Court granted an ex-parte ad interim injunction in favour of Sporta Technologies Private Limited, the owner of the popular fantasy sports platform Dream11, against several rogue entities operating fantasy gaming applications under the marks “Come”, “Come Sports”, and “Come x Dream11.” The Court found a prima facie case of trademark infringement, passing off, and copyright infringement, and directed blocking of multiple infringing domain names.

Facts of the Case

Sporta Technologies operates the Dream11 fantasy sports platform, launched in 2012, which allows users to create virtual teams of real-world athletes and participate in fantasy contests. The company owns several registered Dream11 and “Dream”-formative trademarks and has built substantial goodwill with millions of users across India and internationally.

In December 2025, the plaintiff discovered advertisements on social media promoting mobile applications operating under the marks “Come”, “Come Sports”, and “Come x Dream11.” These applications were distributed through multiple domain names and downloadable APK files.

Upon investigation, the plaintiff found that the defendants had copied the user interface, layout, colour scheme, graphics, and promotional material of the Dream11 application, while also using the Dream11 trademark to create the false impression of association with the plaintiff’s platform.

Aggrieved by these acts, the plaintiff filed a suit before the Delhi High Court seeking injunction against trademark infringement, passing off, and copyright infringement.

Issues before the Court

1. Whether the defendants’ use of the marks “Come”, “Come Sports”, and “Come x Dream11” amounted to infringement of the plaintiff’s registered trademarks.
2. Whether copying the plaintiff’s application interface and promotional content constituted copyright infringement.
3. Whether the plaintiff was entitled to ex-parte ad interim injunction against the defendants and blocking of the infringing websites.

Findings of the Court

The Court observed that the plaintiff is the registered proprietor of the Dream11 trademarks, and under Section 28 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 enjoys the exclusive right to use the marks.

A comparison of the platforms revealed that the defendants had deliberately used the plaintiff’s trademarks and copied the design, layout, and graphical elements of the Dream11 application, thereby misleading users into believing that the impugned platform was associated with the plaintiff.

The Court held that the plaintiff had established a prima facie case, and that the balance of convenience lay in its favour. Continued operation of the impugned applications was likely to cause irreparable harm to the plaintiff’s reputation and goodwill.

Decision of the Court

The Court granted an ex-parte ad interim injunction restraining the defendants from using the plaintiff’s Dream11 trademarks or any deceptively similar marks, and from reproducing or using the plaintiff’s copyright-protected content, including its mobile application interface and promotional material.

The Court also directed the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to issue notifications to internet service providers to block access to the infringing websites and domain names.

Conclusion

The decision highlights the Delhi High Court’s proactive approach in tackling online trademark infringement and cloned digital platforms. By granting immediate interim relief and directing blocking of rogue websites, the Court reinforced the protection of intellectual property rights in the rapidly growing online gaming and digital services ecosystem.