The Delhi High Court has ordered ex-parte interim injunction against 60 websites that media conglomerate Zee said were streaming its copyrighted material, holding that the company would face irreparable loss if injunction is not granted.

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited had submitted that it has observed "rampant and large-scale infringement" of its works by 60 'rogue websites' which are making available to the public its works without authorisation or are facilitating the same. Zee said its entire business depends on the protection of its intellectual property.

The Court was hearing a suit filed by it for permanent injunction, rendition of accounts and damages, on account of piracy of its works and infringement of copyright and broadcast reproduction rights.

A Single Judge Bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna said, "The plaintiff has demonstrated a prima facie case for grant of injunction and, in case, no ex parte ad interim injunction is granted, the plaintiff will suffer an irreparable loss. Further, balance of convenience also lies in favour of the plaintiff, and against the defendants."

Advocate Siddharth Chopra appeared for the plaintiff, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited and Advocate Neel Mason appeared for one of the defendants, Bollyzone.TV.

The Court restrained the owners, partners, officers of the 60 websites from hosting, streaming or making available Zee's works in any manner whatsoever without authorisation.

Zee had arrayed certain domain name registrars as defendants for the purpose of blocking access to or locking or suspending the 'rogue websites' and to disclose information related to the registrants of the said websites.

These domain name registrars were ordered by the Court to suspend the domain name registration of the 60 websites and were directed to disclose details such as name and address and the payment details for registration of domain name.

Certain internet service providers arrayed by Zee were directed to block access to these websites. Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) were directed to block access to the websites.

The Court clarified that if during the pendency of the present suit, any further websites are discovered by Zee, which are illegally streaming the infringing content, copyright of which is owned by it, then it would be at liberty to approach the DoT and the MeitY for issuance of blocking orders and to internet service providers for blocking the said websites.

It was also clarified that if any website which is not primarily an infringing website is blocked pursuant to this Order, they would be permitted to approach the High Court with an undertaking that it does not intend to engage in any unauthorised streaming of any content, over which Zee has rights.

The directions issued by the High Court will operate till the next date of hearing.

Cause Title: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited v. Bollyzone.Tv & Ors. [CS(COMM) 937/2024]

Appearance:

Plaintiff: Advocates Sidharth Chopra, Vivek Ayyagari, Angad S. Makkar, Rishabh Rao and Chanda Shashikant

Defendants: Advocates Neel Mason, Vihan Dang, Ujjawal Bhargava and Aditya Mathur

Click here to read/download the Order



Justice Mini PushkarnaDelhi High Court

Tushar Kohli