Delhi High Court Grants Dynamic Injunction to Jiostar Against Rogue Websites Streaming IPL 2026

In a landmark order, the Delhi High Court granted an ex-parte ad interim dynamic injunction in favour of Jiostar India Private Limited to combat illegal streaming of TATA IPL 2026 matches. The ruling reinforces the protection of broadcast reproduction rights and digital streaming rights against rogue websites operating anonymously online.

Summary

In the case of Jiostar India Private Limited vs. https//daddylives.nl & Ors., the Delhi High Court granted an ex-parte ad interim dynamic injunction in favour of Jiostar India Private Limited against several rogue websites illegally streaming TATA IPL 2026 matches.

The Court recognized Jiostar’s exclusive digital and broadcasting rights in respect of IPL 2026 and restrained rogue websites from unauthorized communication and streaming of the event.

The Court also directed Domain Name Registrars (DNRs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to block access to infringing websites and assist in real-time enforcement through a dynamic injunction mechanism.

The order highlights the judiciary’s proactive approach in tackling online piracy and safeguarding exclusive broadcasting rights in major sporting events.

Facts of the Case

Jiostar India Private Limited is a leading entertainment and media company operating multiple television channels and digital platforms across India. The company runs the OTT platform JioHotstar, formerly known as Disney+ Hotstar, which provides access to sports, films, and television content.

Exclusive Digital and Broadcasting Rights

The plaintiff claimed exclusive digital broadcasting and streaming rights for TATA IPL 2026 for the Indian subcontinent and overseas territories for a five-year period from 2023 to 2027. These rights were acquired through an arrangement with Viacom18 Media Private Limited and acknowledged by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

According to the plaintiff, the IPL is a commercially valuable sporting event, and the exclusive rights granted under the Copyright Act, 1957 enable Jiostar to broadcast and monetize the event through its OTT platform and television channels. Unauthorized parallel streaming of the event would directly interfere with these exclusive rights and undermine its commercial exploitation.

Identification of Rogue Websites

The plaintiff identified several rogue websites engaged in illegal streaming of sports content and likely to broadcast IPL 2026 matches without authorization:

• daddylives.nl
• daddylive.top
• daddylive.cv
• daddylive.online

These websites were operating anonymously through domain privacy services and had a history of infringing copyrighted sports content.

Jiostar further relied on previous orders of the Delhi High Court granting dynamic injunctions in similar sports broadcasting cases, arguing that real-time blocking was necessary due to the rapid emergence of new infringing websites during live sporting events.

Issues Before the Court

• Whether Jiostar had established exclusive copyright and broadcast reproduction rights in respect of TATA IPL 2026.
• Whether rogue websites streaming IPL matches without authorization amounted to copyright infringement and unlawful communication to the public.
• Whether the Court should grant an ex parte ad interim dynamic injunction directing blocking of existing and future infringing websites.

Findings of the Court

The Court observed that Jiostar had acquired exclusive digital and broadcasting rights for TATA IPL 2026, supported by agreements with Viacom18 and acknowledgment by the BCCI. These rights entitled the plaintiff to control the broadcasting and streaming of the event across digital and television platforms.

The Court noted that unauthorized streaming of IPL matches by rogue websites would directly infringe the plaintiff’s exclusive rights under the Copyright Act, 1957, particularly the right to communicate the work to the public and broadcast reproduction rights.

It was further observed that rogue websites typically operate anonymously, hide behind domain privacy services, and continue to emerge during live sporting events, making traditional injunctions ineffective. The Court relied on earlier decisions, including UTV Software Communication Ltd. & Ors. vs. 1337X & Ors.², to hold that such websites qualify as rogue websites and can be subjected to blocking orders.

Considering the urgency of the IPL 2026 event scheduled to commence from 28th March 2026, the Court held that Jiostar had established a prima facie case, the balance of convenience was in its favour, and failure to grant injunction would result in irreparable loss and damage to its exclusive broadcasting rights.

Held

The Court held that Jiostar had established a strong prima facie case for protection of its exclusive broadcasting and streaming rights in respect of TATA IPL 2026. It observed that unauthorized streaming of the event by rogue websites would amount to infringement of the plaintiff’s copyright and broadcast reproduction rights, causing irreparable commercial harm.

Accordingly, the Court granted an ex-parte ad interim injunction restraining the rogue websites and their operators from communicating, hosting, streaming, or making available IPL 2026 content without authorization. The Court issued the following directions:

• DNRs were directed to suspend and lock the infringing domain names and disclose registrant details.
• ISPs were ordered to block access to the identified websites.
• A dynamic injunction was granted, allowing Jiostar to notify additional infringing websites discovered during IPL 2026, upon which DNRs and ISPs must immediately suspend and block access to such websites.
• The Department of Telecommunications and MeitY were directed to issue notifications to ensure real-time enforcement of blocking measures.

Conclusion

This order reinforces the Delhi High Court’s strong stance against digital piracy in sports broadcasting and highlights the growing importance of dynamic injunctions in protecting live streaming rights. The judgment recognizes that rogue websites operate in a rapidly evolving digital environment and therefore require flexible and real-time enforcement mechanisms.

By granting wide-ranging directions to ISPs, domain registrars, and government authorities, the Court ensured effective protection of Jiostar’s exclusive IPL broadcasting rights. The decision further strengthens India’s jurisprudence on copyright protection in live sports events and online streaming, setting a precedent for future cases involving large-scale digital piracy of premium sporting content.