Delhi HC Directs Internet Service Providers To Block Rogue Websites Illegally Streaming 'Undekhi' Series

A suit was filed by the producers of the show.

A Bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula directed, “Defendants No. 1, 2, 14 to 19, and/or any person acting on their behalf, are restrained from communicating, hosting, streaming, screening, disseminating, reproducing, distributing or making available to the public for viewing/downloading, without authorization, of any part of the Plaintiff’s “UNDEKHI” web series/show in which the Plaintiff holds copyright, on any electronic or digital platform, in any manner whatsoever. 25.2. Defendants No. 11 to 14, i.e., internet service providers are directed to block the websites of Defendants No. 1, 2, 14 to 19, immediately upon receiving copies of this order from the Plaintiff. Defendants No. 12 and 13, i.e., DoT and MeitY respectively, are directed to issue necessary directions for blocking the said websites.”

Advocate Harsh Kaushik appeared for the Petitioner.

The Court was informed that the third season of the show was released on May 10 on the Over-the-Top (OTT) platform Sony Liv. Shortly thereafter, it was discovered that the show had been leaked on multiple websites for free download.

Considering the gravity of the situation, the bench issued blocking orders against the rogue websites and allowed the producers to file applications for the inclusion of mirror/redirect or alphanumeric websites engaged in similar unlawful activities.

The Court said, “Such applications shall be listed before the Joint Registrar, who, on being satisfied with the material placed on record, shall issue the appropriate directions to the internet service providers and the Defendants No. 12 and 13, DoT and MeitY respectively.”

Cause Title: Applause Entertainment Private Limited v. www.9xmovies. com.tw & Ors.

Appearance:

Petitioner: Advocates Harsh Kaushik, Anushree Rauta, Shwetank Tripathi, Deepank Singhal, Mohit Bangwal, and Y Prakash from ANM Global