Delhi High Court - Orders
Jiostar India Private Limited vs Https//Daddylives.Nl & Ors on 25 March, 2026
Author: Tushar Rao Gedela
Bench: Tushar Rao Gedela
$~42
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ CS(COMM) 313/2026
JIOSTAR INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED .....Plaintiff
Through: Mr. Sidharth Chopra, Ms. Sneha Jain,
Mr. Yatinder Garg, Mr. Priyensh
Kohli, Ms. Ishi Singh and Mr. Manish
Singh, Advocates,
versus
HTTPS//DADDYLIVES.NL & ORS. .....Defendants
Through: None
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TUSHAR RAO GEDELA
ORDER
% 25.03.2026 I.A. 7973/2026 (Pre-Institution Mediation)
1. This is an application filed by the plaintiff seeking exemption from instituting pre-institution Mediation under Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 ("CC Act").
2. As the present matter contemplates urgent interim relief, in light of the judgment of the Supreme Court in Yamini Manohar vs. T.K.D. Keerthi:
(2024) 5 SCC 815, exemption from the requirement of pre-institution Mediation is granted.
3. The application stands disposed of.
I.A. 7974/2026 (Exemption)
4. This is an application under Section 80 read with Section 151 of Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 ("CPC"), filed by the plaintiff seeking exemption from issuing notice to the defendant nos.19/Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), 22/Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), 28/Department of Telecommunications (DoT), and 29/Ministry of Electronics and CS(COMM) 313/2026 Page 1 of 11 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 26/03/2026 at 20:52:26 Information Technology (MEITY).
5. Exemption is allowed for the reason that urgent reliefs in the nature of injunction are sought against defendant nos.1 to 4, who are likely to unauthorisedly and illegally broadcast the Event scheduled to commence from 28.03.2026 for which the plaintiff claims exclusive rights. For the reasons stated therein, plaintiff is exempted from issuing notice to the defendant nos.19, 22, 28 and 29 at this stage.
6. The application is disposed of.
I.A. 7975/2026 (Additional Documents)
7. The present application has been filed on behalf of the plaintiff under Order XI Rule 1(4) of the CPC as applicable to commercial suits under the CC Act seeking leave to place on record additional documents.
8. The plaintiff is permitted to file additional documents in accordance with the provisions of the CC Act and the Delhi High Court (Original Side) Rules, 2018 within thirty (30) days.
9. Accordingly, the application stands disposed of. I.A. 7972/2026(Order XXXIX Rules 1 & 2, CPC)
10. Present application has been filed on behalf of the plaintiff under Order XXXIX Rules 1 & 2 of CPC, 1908 seeking ex-parte ad-interim injunction against the defendants.
11. It is stated that the plaintiff is a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956, having its registered office at Star House, Urmi Estate, 95, Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, Lower Parel (West) Mumbai 400013, and also has a local office at Vatika Business Centre, Thapar House, Gate No.1, Eastern & Central Wing, 3rd Floor, 124 Janpath, New Delhi 110001.
12. The plaintiff claims to be a leading entertainment and media company in India and has an exclusive right as owner for several works broadcasted on its channels. The portfolio runs into more than one hundred channels in over CS(COMM) 313/2026 Page 2 of 11 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 26/03/2026 at 20:52:26 ten languages. The details of various channels are enumerated in para 3 of the plaint. The necessary uplink and downlink permissions issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) have conferred upon the plaintiff who has the sole and exclusive right to broadcast and distribute Jio Star channels in India. The plaintiff broadcasts various sporting events in the field of Cricket, Football, Badminton, Tennis, Hockey, etc.
13. The plaintiff owns and operates an online audio-visual streaming platform and website 'www.hotstar.com', and the mobile application 'JioHotstar', formerly known as 'Disney+Hotstar'. Its OTT platform enables viewers to watch television serials, films, sports content, etc.
14. Plaintiff claims that the TATA Indian Premier League 2026 (hereinafter referred to as "TATA IPL 2026") is a cricket franchise league which is owned and operated by Board for Cricket Control in India (hereinafter referred to as "BCCI"). The plaintiff claims to have acquired exclusive digital rights (internet rights and mobile rights) from the BCCI for the TATA IPL 2026 for Indian sub-continent and Overseas Territories for a period of five (5) years from the year 2023 to 2027 as confirmed by Right Confirmation Letter dated 15.12.2022 through Viacom18 Media Private Limited pursuant to an arrangement. The rights include exclusive right to use TATA IPL 2026's Logo and any other mark associated with the event. The arrangement between plaintiff and Viacom18 Media Private Limited has been duly acknowledged and consented by BCCI vide letter dated 25.09.2024. Pursuant thereto, the IPL events will be made available on plaintiff's OTT Platform 'JioHotstar' and on its channels.
15. Plaintiff claims that the primary opportunity to exploit the rights are granted under the Copyrights Act, 1957 and the contemporaneous display of the sporting event on parallel unauthorized live streams would deny the ability to effectively monetize the rights acquired or licensed for the said CS(COMM) 313/2026 Page 3 of 11 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 26/03/2026 at 20:52:26 purpose. In para 4 of the plaint, the events other than TATA IPL 2026 have been enlisted. Plaintiff claims that any entity which may broadcast, retransmit, host, stream, make available for viewing and download, provide access to or communicate to the public in India, the event proposed to be commenced from 28.03.2026 which have been licensed the exclusive rights to the plaintiff, without the authorization, it would tantamount to interference with the exclusive rights of the plaintiff. Plaintiff claims that since the unauthorized communication of the plaintiffs' broadcasts even on earlier occasions had occurred in Delhi and the present one too is to occur in Delhi, the cysts of infringement is Delhi.
16. Plaintiff claims that previous IPL event matches which were made available by the plaintiff were also infringed by one or more of the defendants impleaded in the present suit. On account of such past experience, the plaintiff apprehends infringement of their exclusive rights in respect of the TATA IPL 2026 event to be commenced from 28.03.2026. Plaintiff has been able to identify a network of certain rogue websites that are infringing their exclusive rights. Such rogue websites/domain names have been impleaded in the instant suit as defendant nos.1 to 4. It has thus become imperative for the plaintiff to protect their exclusive and statutory rights from infringement by such rogue websites and other similar infringers.
17. Plaintiff claims that it has not authorized any of the defendant nos.1 to 4 to broadcast the said event on their respective platforms. Plaintiff has filed alongwith the plaint, evidence of the defendants' websites being illegal and indulging in infringing activities. The said websites are stated to be illegally communicated and stream the copyrighted contents of the plaintiff to the viewers located in Delhi resulting in infringement. Plaintiff asserts that they have neither licensed nor authorized the owners or operators of the defendants' websites to indulge in communicating or broadcasting the CS(COMM) 313/2026 Page 4 of 11 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 26/03/2026 at 20:52:26 exclusive rights conferred upon the plaintiff in respect of the TATA IPL 2026. The grievances raised by the plaintiff are encapsulated in paras 21 and 22 of the plaint. The plaintiff claims that the owners/operators of the defendants' websites are unknown and are located at unverifiable locations. Most of the rogue websites are stated to hide behind domain privacy services offered by various "Domain Name Registrars". It is believed by the defendants that these rogue websites share a common source for the content which is made available to their users. Such websites use the services of common organizations to hide their identity. Plaintiff claims that it is likely that there is a nexus between these rogue websites.
18. Plaintiff claims that there possibly could be more websites other than defendant nos.1 to 4, however, the said information would only be known once such entities start communicating and broadcasting the TATA IPL 2026. Such entities are enumerated as "Ashok Kumar(s)" i.e. defendant no.30.
19. Mr. Sidharth Chopra, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the plaintiff submits that on previous occasions, this Court has adopted real-time blocking measures to curb infringement by the rogue websites, as reflected by the order dated 30.01.2026 passed in CS(COMM) 89/2026 titled "JioStar India Private Limited vs. GHD Sports & Ors.". He further submits that, on previous occasions, an initial injunction has been granted in respect of the few websites, however, a substantial number of illegal or rogue defendant websites tend to be subsequently uncovered, which continued to unlawfully disseminate the sporting events. Accordingly, such illegal/rogue websites have been injuncted and taken down by way of the 'dynamic injunction' granted by this Court. A list of such orders passed by this Court alongwith the number of additional rogue websites captured in the affidavits filed in such similar matters, of which 4 are extracted hereunder:-
CS(COMM) 313/2026 Page 5 of 11This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 26/03/2026 at 20:52:26 S.No Suit and Event No. of Number of Additional Additional Affidavits Rogue Websites as captured in the affidavits 1. JioStar India Private Limited vs. 19 128 GHD Sports & Ors. CS (COMM) 89/2026 (App Blocking) Event: ICC Under 19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026 and ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 2. JioStar India Private Limited vs. 43 402 crichdbest.com & Ors.
CS(COMM) 81 of 2026 (Website Blocking) Event: ICC Under 19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026 and ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 3. JioStar India Private Limited vs 6 36 timz1cw.2hsgwrotenfy7rhyme.sh op & Ors. CS(COMM) NO. 1210 OF 2025 Order dated: 13.11.2025 (Website Blocking) Event: South Africa Tour of India 2025 and New Zealand Tour of India 2026 4. Star India Private Limited vs. 49 458 https//crichdplayer.org/ & Ors.
CS(COMM) 266 of 2025 Order dated: 25.03.2025 Event: IPL 2025 CS(COMM) 313/2026 Page 6 of 11 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 26/03/2026 at 20:52:26
20. The defendants' websites impleaded in the present suit are stated to be satisfying the criteria set out by this Court in CS(COMM) 724/2017 titled "UTV Software Communication Ltd. & Ors vs. 1337X & Ors.", decided on 10.04.2019. All of which would be subject to orders for the Internet Service Providers i.e. defendant nos.18 to 27.
21. On the aforesaid basis, the plaintiff seeks urgent ex-parte ad-interim injunction and for implementation of urgent action by the Internet Service Providers (ISP), DNRs, DoT and MEITY.
22. Having regard to the aforesaid facts, it appears that the plaintiff is entitled to an ex-parte ad-interim injunction. From the assertions in the plaint, it appears that exclusive right of broadcasting TATA IPL 2026 is assigned/licensed to the plaintiffs. It also appears that the plaintiff has a worldwide presence for hosting or live streaming such events upon grant of exclusive broadcasting rights by the sponsors/hosts of the said events. In such a case, the plaintiff appears to have a prima facie strong case for an ex-parte ad-interim injunction. Since the plaintiff has asserted in their plaint that they have not granted any further broadcasting/streaming rights to any of the defendant nos.1 to 4 or any other such entity till date, coupled with the fact that they have exclusive rights for such broadcast/streaming, balance of convenience is tilted in favour of the plaintiff. Apparently, irreparable loss and injury that may be caused, in case ex parte ad-interim injunction is not granted, may not be adequately compensated in monetary terms. Thus, a case for grant of ex-parte ad-interim injunction is made out.
23. Accordingly, the following directions are passed:
a. Defendant nos.1 to 4, their owners, partners, officers and all others in capacity of principal or agent acting for and on their behalf, or anyone claiming through, by or under it are restrained from in any manner communicating, hosting, streaming, and/or CS(COMM) 313/2026 Page 7 of 11 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 26/03/2026 at 20:52:26 making available for viewing and downloading, without authorization, on their websites or other platforms, through the internet in any manner whatsoever, the plaintiff's works, exclusive broadcasts, streams and content in respect of TATA IPL 2026, so as to infringe the plaintiff's exclusive rights. b. Defendant Nos.5 to 17 i.e., the Domain Name Registrars, their directors, partners, officers, affiliates and all others acting for and on their behalf, are directed to lock/suspend the domain name registration of the defendant nos.1 to 4 indulging in infringing the plaintiff's exclusive rights and broadcast reproduction rights forthwith. Specific Domain Name Registrars for each website are disclosed in Annexure A appended to this Order. c. Defendant nos.5 to 17, and all other acting for and on their behalf are directed to disclose (a) the complete details such as name, address, email address, phone number, IP address of defendant nos.1 to 4; and (b) Mode of payment alongwith payment details used for registration of domain name by the registrants to the plaintiff's within one week.
d. Defendant nos.18 to 27 i.e., the Internet Service Providers, and all other acting for and on their behalf are directed to lock and suspend access to the various websites disclosed in Annexure A appended to this Order forthwith.
e. If any further websites are discovered by the plaintiff, which are found to be unauthorisedly streaming, communicating, hosting or making available content over which the plaintiff has exclusive copyrights and broadcast rights in respect of TATA IPL 2026, the plaintiff is at liberty to communicate the details of such websites, including their domain names and URLs to defendant CS(COMM) 313/2026 Page 8 of 11 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 26/03/2026 at 20:52:26 nos.5 to 17/Domain Name Registrars and defendant nos.18 to 27/Internet Service Providers.
f. Upon receiving such intimation as specified in para (c) and (e) above, from the plaintiff alongwith supporting evidence, defendant nos.5 to 17/DNRs are directed to forthwith lock or suspend the domain name registrations of such newly discovered infringing websites and defendant nos.18 to 27/ISPs are directed to immediately block access to the said websites. g. If any website which is not primarily an infringing website is locked, suspended or blocked pursuant to the present order, it shall be at liberty to approach this Court seeking modification or clarification upon furnishing an undertaking that it does not intend to illegally disseminate content over which the plaintiff has exclusive rights.
h. Defendant nos.28 and 29 are directed to issue a notification calling upon the various ISPs registered under it to block access to the various websites identified by the plaintiff in the present suit, as well as any additional infringing websites discovered during the course of the TATA IPL 2026 and notified by the plaintiff on real time basis.
24. As and when the BSI details are furnished to the plaintiff's, they would be at liberty to file an appropriate application to implead such persons/individuals/entities within 48 hours of receipt of such information/details.
25. Let a reply to this application be filed by the defendants within four weeks from service. Rejoinder, thereto, if any, be filed within two weeks thereafter.
26. Compliance of Order XXXIX Rule 3 of CPC shall be done within ten CS(COMM) 313/2026 Page 9 of 11 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 26/03/2026 at 20:52:26 (10) days from date.
CS(COMM) 313/2026
27. In view of the aforesaid circumstances, let the plaint be registered as a suit.
28. Upon filing of the process fee, issue summons of the suit to the defendants through all permissible modes.
29. The summons shall state that the Written Statement shall be filed by the defendants within 30 days from the date of the receipt of summons. Alongwith the Written Statement, the defendants shall also file Affidavit of Admission/Denial of the documents of the plaintiff, without which the Written Statement shall not be taken on record.
30. Liberty is granted to the plaintiff to file Replication, if any, within 30 days from the receipt of the Written Statement. Along with the Replication filed by the plaintiff, an Affidavit of Admission/Denial of the documents of defendants be filed by the plaintiff, without which the Replication shall not be taken on record.
31. In case any party is placing reliance on a document, which is not in their power and possession, its details and source shall be mentioned in the list of reliance, which shall also be filed with the pleadings.
32. If any of the parties wish to seek inspection of any documents, the same shall be sought and given within the prescribed timelines.
33. List before the Joint Registrar (Judicial) on 08.07.2026 for completion of service and pleadings.
34. List before the Court on 29.09.2026.
TUSHAR RAO GEDELA, J MARCH 25, 2026 Sumit CS(COMM) 313/2026 Page 10 of 11 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 26/03/2026 at 20:52:26 ANNEXURE A LIST OF WEBSITES Defendant Rogue Websites Defendant Domain Name No. No. Registrars
1. https://daddylives.nl 5 Key-Systems GmbH
2. https://daddylive.top 6 NameSilo, LLC
3. https://daddylive.cv
4. https://daddylive.online CS(COMM) 313/2026 Page 11 of 11 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 26/03/2026 at 20:52:26