Legal Document View

Unlock Advanced Research with PRISMAI

- Know your Kanoon - Doc Gen Hub - Counter Argument - Case Predict AI - Talk with IK Doc - ...
Upgrade to Premium
[Cites 9, Cited by 0]

Delhi High Court

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. vs Https://Www.Uwatchfree.St & Ors. on 8 September, 2022

Author: Navin Chawla

Bench: Navin Chawla

                   *        IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
                                                                  Reserved on: 26.08.2022
                                                                  Date of decision: 08.09.2022

                   +        CS (COMM) 402/2019 & I.A 10548/2019, I.A. 10550/2019 &
                            I.A. 10891/2022
                            WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC              .....Plaintiff

                                                  Through:       Ms.Suhasini Raina, Ms.R.Ramya
                                                                 and Ms.Mehr Sidhu, Advs.
                                         versus
                            HTTPS://WWW.UWATCHFREE.ST& ORS                               .....Defendants
                                         Through: None.

                   CORAM:
                   HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAVIN CHAWLA
                   1.       The Plaintiff has filed the present suit inter-alia praying for the
                   following reliefs:
                                            "50. In light of the foregoing, it is most
                                            respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble Court may
                                            be pleased to:

                                            i. Issue an order and decree of permanent
                                            injunction restraining the Defendant No. 1 (and
                                            such other mirror/redirect/alphanumeric websites
                                            discovered to provide additional means of
                                            accessing the Defendant Website, and other
                                            domains/domain                      owners/website
                                            operators/entities which are discovered to have
                                            been engaging in infringing the Plaintiff's
                                            exclusive    rights),    its   owners,    partners,
                                            proprietors, officers, servants, employees, and all
                                            others in capacity of principal or agent acting for
                                            and on their behalf, or anyone claiming through,
                                            by or under it, from, in any manner hosting,
                                            streaming, reproducing, distributing, making
                                            available to the public and/or communicating to
                                            the public, or facilitating the same, on their
                                            websites, through the internet in any manner

Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                                         Page 1 of 17
15:30:33
                                             whatsoever,             any             cinematograph
                                            work/content/programme/ show in relation to
                                            which Plaintiff has copyright,
                                            ii. Issue an order and decree directing the
                                            Defendant Nos. 2-10, their directors, partners,
                                            proprietors,      officers,    affiliates,   servants,
                                            employees, and all others in capacity of principal
                                            or agent acting for and on their behalf, or anyone
                                            claiming through, by or under it, to block access
                                            to the Defendant No. 1 website identified by the
                                            Plaintiff in the instant suit (and such other
                                            mirror/redirect/alphanumeric websites discovered
                                            to provide additional means of accessing the
                                            Defendant Website, and other domains/domain
                                            owners/website operators/entities which are
                                            discovered to have been engaging in infringing
                                            the Plaintiff's exclusive rights)
                                            iii. Issue an order directing the Defendant Nos. 11
                                            and 12, to issue a notification calling upon the
                                            various internet and telecom service providers
                                            registered under it to block access to the
                                            Defendant No. 1 websites identified by the
                                            Plaintiff in the instant suit (and such other
                                            mirror/redirect/alphanumeric websites discovered
                                            to provide additional means of accessing the
                                            Defendant Website, and other domains/domain
                                            owners/website operators/entities which are
                                            discovered to have been engaging in infringing
                                            the Plaintiff's exclusive rights);
                                            iv. Issue an order directing the Domain Name
                                            Registrars of the Defendant Website identified by
                                            the Plaintiff in the Plaint to disclose the contact
                                            details and other details about the owner of the
                                            said websites, and other such relief as this
                                            Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper;"


                   2.       The Plaintiff claims itself to be a global entertainment company
                   under the laws of the State of Delaware, the United States of America,
                   and as being engaged in the business of creation, production, and
                   distribution of motion pictures. The Plaintiff has also received certain


Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                                            Page 2 of 17
15:30:33
                    reputed awards, such as the Academy Award for "Best Picture" for
                   "Argo" in 2012.
                   3.       It is the contention of the Plaintiff that the motion pictures
                   produced by the Plaintiff, being works of visual recording and which
                   include sound recordings accompanying such visual recordings, qualify
                   to be a „cinematograph film‟ under Section 2(f) of the Copyright Act,
                   1957 (hereinafter referred to as „the Act‟). The Plaintiff claims that this
                   Court has jurisdiction by virtue of Section 13(1) read with Sections 13(2)
                   and 5 of the Act, since the Plaintiff‟s cinematograph films are released in
                   India, the cinematograph films of the Plaintiff would be entitled to all the
                   rights and protections granted under the provisions of the Act.
                   4.       The claim of the Plaintiff is premised on the allegation of illegal
                   and     unauthorized     distribution,   broadcasting,   re-broadcasting,    re-
                   broadcasting, transmission and streaming of the Plaintiff‟s original
                   content by the Defendant Nos. 1 and 14 to 21 (hereinafter referred to as
                   the "rogue websites"). It is the case of the Plaintiff that as a result of the
                   unauthorized transmission of their content, the rogue websites infringe
                   the copyright of the Plaintiff in the original works produced by it, which
                   have been granted protection under the provisions of the Act.
                   5.       The Plaintiff has impleaded various Internet Service Providers (in
                   short, "ISPs") as the Defendant Nos. 2-10 and the concerned departments
                   of the Government of India as the Defendant Nos. 11 and 12. The ISPs
                   and the concerned departments have been impleaded for the limited relief
                   of making compliance with any directions of this Court granted in favour
                   of the Plaintiff.


Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                              Page 3 of 17
15:30:33
                    6.       The Plaintiff has alleged that the Defendant Nos. 1 and 14 to 21 are
                   the rogue websites. The Plaintiff, vide an investigation conducted by an
                   independent investigator, learnt of the extent of the infringing activity of
                   the rogue websites, in as much as the rogue websites have infringed the
                   Plaintiff‟s copyright under the provisions of the Act in the original
                   content by unauthorized distribution, broadcasting, re-broadcasting, re-
                   broadcasting, transmission and streaming and/or by facilitating the use of
                   the rogue websites, inter alia by downloading and streaming the
                   Plaintiff‟s original cinematograph films in which copyright vests.
                   7.       It is also the case of the Plaintiff that a cease-and-desist notice was
                   served on the rogue websites calling upon them to cease from engaging
                   in their infringing activities. Despite the legal notice, the rogue websites
                   continue to infringe the rights of the Plaintiff in its original content.
                   8.       The learned counsel for the Plaintiff presses only for prayers (i),
                   (ii) and (iii), as noted hereinabove, of the plaint. The other reliefs as made
                   in the plaint are not pressed.
                   9.       The learned counsel for the Plaintiff relies upon the judgment
                   passed by a Coordinate Bench of this Court in a batch of petitions dated
                   10.04.2019, including UTV Software Communication Ltd. &Ors. v.
                   1337X.to & Ors., 2019 SCC OnLine Del 8002, which deal with the
                   determination of rogue websites.
                   10.      The Plaintiff thereafter filed I.A. 10891 of 2022 under Order XIIIA
                   read with Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (hereinafter
                   referred to as "CPC"), as applicable to commercial disputes, seeking a
                   summary judgment. The said application was listed before this Court on
                   18.07.2022, wherein this Court recorded that the service and pleadings

Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                               Page 4 of 17
15:30:33
                    are complete in regard to all the Defendants and that the rogue websites
                   have neither appeared nor have filed written statements in the present suit
                   proceedings till date. Further, this Court directed the suit to proceed ex-
                   parte qua Defendant Nos. 1, 3, 4 to 6, 8, 10, 13 and 14 to 21 (which
                   includes the rogue websites).
                   11.      The grounds for filing the present application, as enumerated by
                   the Plaintiff in the same, are as follows:
                            a.       That all the Defendants have been duly served by the
                            Plaintiff, however, only the Defendant Nos., 7, 9, 11 and 12 have
                            entered appearance before this Court.
                            b.       That the Defendant Nos. 1 and 14 to 21, being the rogue
                            websites, against whom the Plaintiff is seeking primary relief, are
                            illegally streaming the Plaintiff‟s content on their websites and
                            even after being duly served by the Plaintiff, have decided not to
                            contest the present suit.
                            c.       That Defendants have no real prospect of successfully
                            defending the claim of copyright infringement under Section 51 of
                            the Act and have further not chosen to contest the said claim.
                            d.       Additionally, there is no other compelling reason as to why
                            the present suit should not be disposed of before recording of oral
                            evidence particularly in view of the fact that there is no dispute
                            regarding the illegal activities of the Defendant Nos. 1 and 14 to 21
                            and in any event, in the absence of any challenge or opposition to
                            the factual allegations made in the plaint, in view of provisions of
                            Order VIII Rule 5 of the CPC, there is no occasion for recording
                            of oral evidence in the present matter.

Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                              Page 5 of 17
15:30:33
                    12.      The learned counsel for the Plaintiff has relied upon Clause 3 of
                   Chapter XA of the Delhi High Court (Original Side) Rules, 2018 which
                   states the grounds under which a Court can pass a summary judgment.
                   13.      The learned counsel for the Plaintiff has drawn my attention to two
                   affidavits filed by Mr. Manish Vaishampayan, who conducted the
                   investigation with regard to the aforesaid websites on the instance of the
                   Plaintiff, to contend that the said websites need to be treated as rogue
                   websites. With respect to this contention, reliance is placed on the
                   following documentary evidence in support of each of the aforesaid
                   websites:

                             S.No.                       Particulars              Court File
                                                                                  Pagination along with
                                                                                  Volume Number

                                      1.     Print of Contact Details of various websites as available on
                                             WHOIS (primary domains):

                                            1)uWatchfree.st                       Pg. 229- 231
                                            (Defendant No. 1)                     Folder IV (Vol. 2)

                                            2)uWatchfree.se                       Pg.239-240
                                            (Defendant No. 1)                     Folder IV (Vol.2)

                                            3)uWatchfree.sx                       Pg.243-245
                                            (Defendant No.1)                      Folder IV (Vol.2)

                                            4) Uwatchfree.ws                      I.A No. 18422/2019
                                            (Defendant 14)                        Pg. 46-48

                                            5) Uwatchfree.tv                      I.A No. 18422/2019
                                            (Defendant 15)                        Pg. 49-51

                                            6)uwatchfree.ai                       I.A. No. 8890/2020
                                            (Defendant No. 16)                    Pg. No. 50-52

Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                                     Page 6 of 17
15:30:33
                                             7) uwatchfree.cx                          I.A. No. 8890/2020
                                            (Defendant No.17)                         Pg. No. 55-57

                                            8)uwatchfree.ms                           I.A No. 8890/2020
                                            (Defendant 18)                            Pg. No. 60-62

                                            9)uWatchfree.pl                           I.A No. 12497/2021
                                            (Defendant 19)                            Pg. 57-58

                                            10)uWatchfree.pe                          I.A No. 12497/2021
                                            (Defendant 20)                            Pg. 72-73

                                            11)uWatchfree.mu                          I.A No. 12497/2021
                                            (Defendant 21)                            Pg. 76-77


                                      2.     Copies of proof of ownership of movie titles

                                                a) Aquaman (Warner)                   Pg.25-26
                                                                                      Folder IV (Vol.1)

                                      3.     Screenshots of Homepage of         various     websites   (primary
                                                  domains):

                                            1)uWatchfree.st                           Pg 206-207
                                            (Defendant No. 1)                         Folder IV(Vol. 2)

                                            2) uWatchfree.ws                          I.A No. 18422/2019
                                            (Defendant No 14)                         Pg. 34-36

                                            3)uWatchfree.ai                           I.A. No. 8890/2020
                                            (Defendant No. 16)                        Pg.32-34

                                            4) uWatchfree.cx                          I.A No. 8890/2020
                                            (Defendant No. 17)                        Pg.55-57

                                            5)uWatchfree.ms                           I.A No. 8890/2020
                                            (Defendant No. 18)                        Pg.60-62

                                            6)uWatchfree.pl                           I.A No. 12497/2021
                                            (Defendant 19)                            Pg. No 38-41


Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                                         Page 7 of 17
15:30:33
                                             7)uWatchfree.pe                           I.A No. 2497/2021
                                            (Defendant 20)                            Pg. 59-60

                                      4.     Printout of proof of infringement by websites (primary domains):



                                            1) uWatchfree.st                          Pg. 214-228
                                            (Defendant No. 1)                         Folder IV(Vol. 2)

                                      5.     Printouts of the DMCA, FAQ, etc. pages, evidencing infringing
                                             nature of the Defendant Websites:

                                            1) uWatchfree.st                          Pg. 208-209
                                                                                      Folder IV (Vol.2)
                                            (Defendant No.1)
                                            DMCA

                                            2)uWatchfree.st                           Pg.210-211
                                                                                      Folder IV (Vol.2)
                                            (Defendant No.1)
                                            Contact Us


                                            3)uWatchfree.ai                           I.A. No. 8890/2020
                                            (Defendant No. 16)                        Pg.37-38

                                            DMCA


                                            4)uWatchfree.ai                           I.A. No. 8890/2020
                                            (Defendant No. 16)                        Pg.35-36
                                            Contact Us

                                            5)uWatchfree.pl                           I.A No. 12497/2021
                                            (Defendant 19)                            Pg.44-45
                                            DMCA

                                            6)uWatchfree.pl                           I.A No. 12497/2021
                                            (Defendant 19)                            Pg. No 42-43
                                            Contact us




Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                                         Page 8 of 17
15:30:33
                    14.      I have heard the learned counsel for the Plaintiff.
                   15.      In UTV Software (supra), a Coordinate Bench of this Court, as far
                   as the rogue websites are concerned, identified the following illustrative
                   factors to be considered in determining whether a particular website falls
                   within that class:
                                            "59. In the opinion of this Court, some of the
                                            factors to be considered for determining whether
                                            the website complained of is a FIOL/Rogue
                                            Website are:-
                                            a. whether the primary purpose of the website is to
                                            commit or facilitate copyright infringement;
                                            b. the flagrancy of the infringement, or the
                                            flagrancy of the facilitation of the infringement;
                                            c. Whether the detail of the registrant is masked
                                            and no personal or traceable detail is available
                                            either of the Registrant or of the user.
                                            d. Whether there is silence or inaction by such
                                            website after receipt of take down notices
                                            pertaining to copyright infringement.
                                            e. Whether the online location makes available or
                                            contains directories, indexes or categories of the
                                            means to infringe, or facilitate an infringement of,
                                            copyright;
                                            f. Whether the owner or operator of the online
                                            location demonstrates a disregard for copyright
                                            generally;
                                            g. Whether access to the online location has been
                                            disabled by orders from any court of another
                                            country or territory on the ground of or related to
                                            copyright infringement;
                                            h. whether the website contains guides or
                                            instructions to circumvent measures, or any order
                                            of any court, that disables access to the website on
                                            the ground of or related to copyright
                                            infringement; and i. the volume of traffic at or
                                            frequency of access to the website;
                                            j. Any other relevant matter.
                                            60. This Court clarifies that the aforementioned
                                            factors are illustrative and not exhaustive and do
                                            not apply to intermediaries as they are governed


Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                                          Page 9 of 17
15:30:33
                                             by IT Act, having statutory immunity and function
                                            in a wholly different manner.
                                            xxxxx
                                            69. Consequently, the real test for examining
                                            whether a website is a Rogue Website is a
                                            qualitative approach and not a quantitative one."


                   16.       This Court, in UTV Software (supra) further held as under:
                                            "29. It is important to realise that piracy reduces
                                            jobs, exports and overall competitiveness in
                                            addition to standards of living for a nation and its
                                            citizens. More directly, online piracy harms the
                                            artists and creators, both the struggling as well as
                                            the rich and famous, who create content, as well
                                            as the technicians-sound engineers, editors, set
                                            designers, software and game designers-who
                                            produce it and those who support its marketing,
                                            distribution and end sales. Consequently, online
                                            piracy has had a very real and tangible impact on
                                            the film industry and rights of the owners.
                                            30. The Indian Copyright Act, 1957 ("the
                                            Copyright Act") confers a bundle of exclusive
                                            rights on the owner of a "work" and provides for
                                            remedies in case the copyright is infringed.
                                            xxxxx
                                            34. The above definitions make it clear that
                                            making any work available for being seen or
                                            heard by the public whether simultaneously or at
                                            places chosen individually, regardless of whether
                                            the public actually sees the film, will constitute
                                            communication of the film to the public. The intent
                                            was to include digital copies of works, which
                                            would include within its scope digital copies of
                                            works being made available online (as opposed to
                                            the physical world). Communication can be by
                                            various means such as directly or by display or
                                            diffusion. In this context, definition of
                                            "broadcast" is also relevant which identifies
                                            communication to public by wireless diffusion or
                                            by wire. Thus, making available of a film for
                                            streaming or downloads in the form of digital
                                            copies on the internet is within the scope of
                                            "communication to the public".

Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                                          Page 10 of 17
15:30:33
                                             35. It is pertinent to note that the definition of
                                            "communication to the public" was first added in
                                            the Copyright Act by the 1983 Amendment and
                                            was as follows:-
                                            "Communication to the public" means
                                            communication to the public in whatever manner,
                                            including communication though satellite".
                                            xxxxx
                                            53. Also should an infringer of the copyright on
                                            the Internet be treated differently from an
                                            infringer in the physical world? If the view of the
                                            aforesaid Internet exceptionalists school of
                                            thought is accepted, then all infringers would shift
                                            to the e-world and claim immunity!
                                            54. A world without law is a lawless world. In
                                            fact, this Court is of the view that there is no
                                            logical reason why a crime in the physical world
                                            is not a crime in the digital world especially when
                                            the Copyright Act does not make any such
                                            distinction.
                                            xxxxx
                                            80. In the opinion of this Court, while blocking is
                                            antithetical to efforts to preserve a "free and
                                            open" Internet, it does not mean that every
                                            website should be freely accessible. Even the most
                                            vocal supporters of Internet freedom recognize
                                            that it is legitimate to remove or limit access to
                                            some materials online, such as sites that facilitate
                                            child pornography and terrorism. Undoubtedly,
                                            there is a serious concern associated with
                                            blocking orders that it may prevent access to
                                            legitimate content. There is need for a balance in
                                            approach and policies to avoid unnecessary cost
                                            or impact on other interests and rights.
                                            Consequently, the onus is on the right holders to
                                            prove to the satisfaction of the Court that each
                                            website they want to block is primarily facilitating
                                            wide spread copyright infringement.
                                            xxxxxx
                                            82. One can easily see the appeal in passing a
                                            URL blocking order, which adequately addresses
                                            over-blocking. A URL specific order need not
                                            affect the remainder of the website. However,
                                            right-holders claim that approaching the Court or
                                            the ISPs again and again is cumbersome,

Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                                          Page 11 of 17
15:30:33
                                               particularly in the case of websites promoting
                                              rampant piracy.
                                              83. This Court is of the view that to ask the
                                              plaintiffs to identify individual infringing URLs
                                              would not be proportionate or practicable as it
                                              would require the plaintiffs to expend
                                              considerable effort and cost in notifying long lists
                                              of URLs to ISPs on a daily basis. The position
                                              might have been different if defendants' websites
                                              had a substantial proportion of non-infringing
                                              content, but that is not the case.
                                              84. This Court is of the view that while passing a
                                              website blocking injunction order, it would have
                                              to also consider whether disabling access to the
                                              online location is in the public interest and a
                                              proportionate response in the circumstances and
                                              the impact on any person or class of persons likely
                                              to be affected by the grant of injunction. The
                                              Court order must be effective, proportionate and
                                              dissuasive, but must not create barriers to
                                              legitimate trade. The measures must also be fair
                                              and not excessively costly (See: Loreal v. Ebay,
                                              [Case C 324/09]).
                                              xxxxxx
                                              86. Consequently, website blocking in the case of
                                              rogue websites, like the defendant-websites,
                                              strikes a balance between preserving the benefits
                                              of a free and open Internet and efforts to stop
                                              crimes such as digital piracy.
                                              87. This Court is also of the opinion that it has the
                                              power to order ISPs and the DoT as well as
                                              MEITY to take measures to stop current
                                              infringements as well as if justified by the
                                              circumstances prevent future ones."


                   17.      It is notable that the Plaintiff had filed similar application under
                   Order XIIIA of the CPC (as application to commercial disputes) in
                   similar       suit,      being   Warner        Bros.     Entertainment         Inc.        Vs.
                   https://Otorrents.Com & Ors. (CS (COMM). 367 of 2019), Warner
                   Bros. Entertainment Inc. Vs. https://www2.Filmlinks4u & Ors. (CS


Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                                             Page 12 of 17
15:30:33
                    (COMM). Comm. 368 of 2019), Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Vs.
                   http://Mp4moviez.Io & Ors. (CS (COMM). 399 of 2019) and Warner
                   Bros.                         Entertainment                      Inc.                   vs.
                   https://www.TAMILROCKERMOVIES.COM & Ors. (CS (COMM).
                   419 of 2019), wherein this Court, relying on the judgement, UTV
                   Software Communication Ltd. (supra) has decreed the suits in favor of
                   the Plaintiff.
                   18.      In the present case, vide order dated 05.08.2019, this Court had
                   granted an ex-parte ad-interim injunction against the Defendant No. 1
                   (and such other domains/domain owners/website operators/entities which
                   are discovered during the course of the proceedings to have been
                   engaging in infringing the Plaintiff's exclusive rights), its owners,
                   partners, proprietors, officers, servants, employees, 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, hosting, streaming,
                   reproducing, distributing, making available to the public and/or
                   communicating to the public, or facilitating the same, in any manner, on
                   their       websites,           through    the       internet    any     cinematograph
                   work/content/programme/ show in relation to which Plaintiff has
                   copyright.
                   19.      Vide the same order, this Court had directed the Defendant Nos. 2
                   to 10 to block the domain name „uwatchfree‟ and their URL‟s as
                   mentioned in the table below-
                    Domain                  URLs                                   IP Addresses

                                            https://www.uwatchfree.st              104.26.14.15



Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                                         Page 13 of 17
15:30:33
                                                                                    104.26.15.15
                    uwatchfree              https://www.uwatchfee.se/              104.27.150.63
                                                                                   104.27.151.63

                                            https://www.uwatchfree.sx/             104.26.12.135
                                                                                   104.26.13.135


                   20.      This Court further directed the Defendant Nos. 11 and 12 to
                   suspend the above-mentioned domain name registration of the Defendant
                   No. 1 and issue requisite notifications calling upon various internet and
                   telecom service providers registered under them to block the
                   aforementioned website identified by the Plaintiff.
                   21.      The learned counsel for the Plaintiff submits that pursuant to the
                   ex-parte ad-interim order dated 05.08.2019, the Defendant No. 11 has
                   issued a notification in compliance. The learned counsel for the Plaintiff
                   further states that the Defendant Nos. 2 to 10 have blocked the rogue
                   websites, that is, Defendant No. 1‟s websites.
                   22.      Also, vide the same order, this Court observed the following:
                                                "21. Further, as held by this court in UTV
                                                Software Communication Ltd. (supra), in order
                                                for this court to be freed from constant monitoring
                                                and        adjudicating       the     issues     of
                                                mirror/redirect/alphanumeric websites it is
                                                directed that as and when Plaintiff file an
                                                application under Order I Rule 10 for
                                                impleadment of such websites, Plaintiff shall file
                                                an affidavit confirming that the newly impleaded
                                                website is mirror/redirect/alphanumeric website
                                                with sufficient supporting evidence. Such
                                                application shall be listed before the Joint
                                                Registrar, who on being satisfied with the material
                                                placed on record, shall issue directions to the
                                                ISPs to disable access in India to such
                                                mirror/redirect/alphanumeric websites".

Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                                             Page 14 of 17
15:30:33
                    23.      In light of the aforesaid direction, the Plaintiff filed application
                   under Order I Rule 10 of CPC for the impleadment of the Defendant
                   Nos.14-15 (I.A. 18422 of 2019), Defendant Nos. 16-18 (I.A. 8890 of
                   2020) and Defendant Nos. 19-21 (I.A. 12497 of 2021)in the present suit
                   proceedings, which was allowed by the Hon‟ble Court and the ex-parte
                   ad-interim order dated 05.08.2019 was thereby extended to the Defendant
                   Nos.14 to 15,16 to 18 & 19 to 21 vide orders dated 24.12.2019,
                   08.10.2020 and 29.09.2021 respectively.
                   24.      Thereafter, on 09.05.2022, the learned Joint Registrar (Judicial),
                   passed the following order in regard to rogue websites, that is, Defendant
                   Nos. 14 to 21:-
                                            " No written statement filed by newly impleaded
                                            defendants no. 19-21 despite service.
                                            All of the contesting defendants against whom
                                            substantial relief has been sought by the plaintiff
                                            have been served, however they have not
                                            preferred to appear to contest this case or to file
                                            written      statement      and     affidavit     of
                                            admission/denial of documents. In this regard law
                                            shall take its own course.
                                            Learned counsel for plaintiffs submits that there is
                                            no document for admission/denial of documents.
                                            Hence, pleadings stand complete.
                                            Other defendants who were supposed to comply
                                            with interim directions have already complied
                                            with.
                                            Let the matter be placed before the Hon'ble Court
                                            for further direction on 18.07.2022."


                   25.       Since the Defendant Nos. 1, 14 to 21 are not appearing, despite
                   notice, in my opinion, the suit can be heard and decided summarily. The
                   Defendant Nos. 1, 14 to 21 have no real prospect of successfully

Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                                          Page 15 of 17
15:30:33
                    defending the claim of copyright infringement and have further not
                   chosen to contest the said claim. The present matter is mainly concerned
                   with the enforcement of the injunction orders which are passed against
                   the rogue websites who do not have any defense to the claim of copyright
                   infringement but use the anonymity offered by the internet to engage in
                   illegal activities, such as copyright infringement in the present case.
                   26.      On the basis of the evidence placed on record and keeping in mind
                   the factors identified by this Court in UTV Software (supra), I find that
                   there is sufficient evidence to hold that the Defendant no. 1, 14-21 are
                   "rogue websites" and that this is a fit case for passing a summary
                   judgement invoking the provisions of Order XIIIA of the CPC, as
                   applicable to the commercial disputes.
                   27.      In UTV Software (supra), the Court also examined the issue of
                   grant of dynamic injunctions and permitted subsequent impleadment of
                   mirror/redirect/alphanumeric websites which provide access to the rogue
                   websites, by filing an application under Order I Rule 10 of the CPC
                   before the learned Joint Registrar (Judicial) along with an affidavit with
                   supporting evidence, confirming that the proposed website is
                   mirror/redirect/alphanumeric website of the injuncted defendant websites.
                   At the request of the counsel for the Plaintiff, the same directions are
                   liable to be made in this case also.
                   28.      Accordingly, I.A. No. 10891 of 2022 under Order XIIIA of the
                   CPC, as applicable to commercial disputes, seeking a summary judgment
                   is allowed. All the pending applications are also disposed of.
                   29.      The suit is, therefore, decreed in terms of prayers (i), (ii) and (iii)
                   of the Plaint. The Plaintiff is also permitted to implead any

Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed By:SHALOO
BATRA
Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019                                               Page 16 of 17
15:30:33
                    mirror/redirect/alphanumeric websites which provide access to the
                   Defendants Nos. 1, 14 to 21‟s websites by filing an appropriate
                   application under Order I Rule 10 of the CPC, supported by affidavits
                   and evidence as directed in UTV Software (supra). Any website
                   impleaded as a result of such application will be subject to the same
                   decree.
                   30.      Let a decree sheet be drawn up accordingly.


                                                                          NAVIN CHAWLA, J.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022/ai Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:SHALOO BATRA Signing Date:09.09.2022CS (COMM) 402/2019 Page 17 of 17 15:30:33