Star India Private Limited v. CRICHD.PK & Ors.

1. This suit is instituted by the Plaintiff inter alia seeking permanent injunction restraining Defendants No. 1 to 5 and such other websites, which are notified during the proceedings and all others acting on their behalf from communicating, streaming and/or making available for viewing and downloading without authorization on their websites or other platforms contents, on which Plaintiff has exclusive rights in relation to ‘ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024’, which is a T20 International Cricket Tournament.

2. Subject matter of the present suit is ‘ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024’ (‘Event’). The matches under the Event were scheduled to be held from 03.10.2024 to 20.10.2024 in United Arab Emirates and included total of 23 T20 matches.

3. As per the case set up in the plaint, Plaintiff is an entertainment and media company in India engaged, inter alia in production of popular content broadcasted on its channels. Along with its affiliates, Plaintiff is the owner of an extensive portfolio of more than 100 channels in over 10 languages, including channels like Star Movies, Colors Infinity, Sports18, Star Gold, Star Sports 1, MTV, Disney Channel, National Geographic etc. By virtue of order dated 27.09.2024, passed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, granting uplink and downlink permissions, Plaintiff has the sole and exclusive right to broadcast and distribute Star Channels in India, which broadcast sporting events in sports such as Cricket, Football, Formula 1, Badminton, Hockey, to name a few.

4. It is stated that Plaintiff owns and operates online audio-visual streaming platform and websites ‘www.hotstar.com’, ‘www.Jiocinema.com’ and mobile applications ‘JioHotstar’ and ‘JioCinema’. Plaintiff’s OTTs enable viewers to watch television serials and programs, films, sports content, including live sports content etc. The highly evolved video streaming technology, impeccable quality of video streaming and vast library of content, places the Plaintiff amongst the most popular video streaming services in India.

5. It is stated that Plaintiff entered into Media Rights Agreement dated 27.08.2022 with ICC for exclusive digital medial rights and television rights for India in relation to various domestic and international men’s and women’s cricket competitions inter alia for a period of 4 years i.e., from 2024 to 2027 and consequently, Plaintiff enjoys broadcast reproduction rights conferred by Section 37 of The Copyright Act, 1957 (‘1957 Act’).

6. The present suit was instituted by the Plaintiff for restraining Defendants No. 1 to 5, which are rogue websites and all others acting on their behalf from communicating, hosting, streaming, screening, disseminating or making available for viewing or downloading, without authorization, any part of the ‘Event’ on any electronic or digital platform in any manner whatsoever. Plaintiff impleaded the Domain Name Registrars as Defendants No. 6 to 10 to lock and suspend the given domain names of Defendants No. 1 to 5. Defendants No. 11 to 19 are ISPs/TSPs, which were impleaded to block the websites of Defendants No. 1 to 5. Defendant No. 20 is DoT and Defendant No. 21 is MeitY impleaded for the purpose of issuing blocking orders.

7. On 30.09.2024, after hearing the Plaintiff’s counsel, Court granted ex parte ad interim injunction in favour of the Plaintiff and restrained Defendants No. 1 to 5 and/or any other person acting on their behalf from communicating, hosting, streaming etc., any part of the ‘Event’ without authorization, on any platform and in any manner whatsoever. Directions were passed to the DNRs to lock and suspend the given domain names of Defendants No. 1 to 5, while ISPs/TSPs were directed to block the websites, amongst other directions to other Defendants. The ex parte ad interim order continues to operate till date.

8. On 27.11.2025, learned Joint Registrar recorded that all Defendants were served but no written statements were filed and that prescribed period to file written statements had expired. Right of Defendants No. 1 to 21 to file written statements was closed earlier vide order dated 25.03.2025 and vide order dated 27.11.2025, the learned Joint Registrar closed the right of Defendants No. 23 to 124, which included newly Defendants, to file written statements.

9. None appears for Defendants No. 1 to 5 even today. It appears that the said Defendants are not interested in contesting the suit and are accordingly set ex parte.

10. I have heard the counsel for the Plaintiff and perused the documents, including the averments in the plaint.

11. Plaint is duly verified and supported by affidavit of the authorized signatory of the Plaintiff. In view of the fact that no written statements have been filed on behalf of Defendants No. 1 to 5, the contesting Defendants, all averments in the plaint will be deemed to be admitted. No affidavit of admission/denial has been filed by the said Defendants in respect of documents filed by the Plaintiff and therefore, in terms of Rule 3 of Delhi High Court (Original Side) Rules, 2018, the documents filed with the plaint are also deemed to be admitted. From the plaint and material on record, Plaintiff is able to demonstrate that it owns media/television rights in several sporting events mentioned in the plaint and also owns and operates several general entertainment channels, including but not limited to Star Plus, Star Sports 1 etc. Plaintiff also owns and operates online video streaming platform/website ‘www.hotstar.com’ and mobile applications as aforementioned. Under Agreement dated 27.08.2022, Plaintiff acquired exclusive digital media rights and television rights from ICC. The present suit pertains to ‘ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024’ for matches, which were scheduled from 03.10.2024 till 20.10.2024, which are over.

12. From the plaint, it emerges that Defendants No. 1 to 5 are rogue websites, which were indulging in betting and gambling services and infringing Plaintiff’s rights in sporting events as also in unauthorized dissemination and communication of the matches, till the ex parte injunction order was passed by the Court. Plaintiff paid a significant amount towards consideration for acquisition of media rights expecting to earn substantial revenues from the broadcast and live streaming of the events on its digital platform. Illegal activities of Defendants No. 1 to 5 have caused irreparable harm to the Plaintiff and infringed its exclusive rights of broadcasting. Despite service, said Defendants have chosen not to contest the suit and are thus liable to be restrained from disseminating and communicating to the public, Plaintiff’s works, without any authorization/licence from the Plaintiff. RELIEFS:

13. In view of the above, decree of permanent injunction is passed in favour of the Plaintiff and against Defendants No. 1 to 5 and 23 to 124 in terms of prayer clause 55(i) of the plaint since Plaintiff does not press any other relief.

14. Registry is directed to draw up the decree sheet.

15. Suit stands disposed of along with pending applications.