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Delhi High Court has directed to block websites involved in online piracy by showing cricket matches. The website was broadcasting the match without the permission of the authority. The broadcast rights of IPL matches are with Star Network.
Delhi High Court has directed to block websites involved in online piracy by showing cricket matches. The website was broadcasting the match without the permission of the authority. In view of the upcoming IPL, the High Court gave this order while hearing the petition filed by Star India.
In an order dated March 11, Justice Pratibha M Singh said, “The court is also prima facie satisfied that an injunction should be granted against any other website showing pirated content or illegally and illegally starting broadcast of IPL-2022.”
The High Court directed several Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block websites. The court also asked the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to issue orders to block these websites.
The court said that now if the website broadcasts IPL-2022 matches illegally, then the plaintiff can file an affidavit in this regard along with the evidence.
If the information of the plaintiff is correct, the orders to block such other websites shall be passed immediately and in special cases also within 24 hours so that the websites cannot transmit the IPL-2022 content in any manner.
Star India told the court that they have acquired exclusive media rights for a period of five years from January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2022, including mobile activation for IPL matches and other ancillary rights.
The counsel for the petitioner pointed out that the websites have been seen circulating pirated content without any license or authorization and the footage of previous cricket matches were also circulated without permission.
The lawyer said that the match broadcast on these websites usually starts during the match and by the time action is taken and the website is removed, the match is over.
