Delhi High Court restrains rogue websites from streaming content owned by Unisys Group

The Delhi High Court recently restrained various websites from unauthorizedly hosting or streaming the content produced or owned by entertainment company Unisys Infosolutions and its affiliate companies [Unisys Infosolutions Private Limited & Ors. Vs Desicinemas.Tv & Ors].Unisys Infosultions is a major company engaged in production, acquisition and distribution of various cinematographic films and audio-visual content in different Indian languages. The Haryana-based company also runs the Punjabi OTT platform KableOne and YouTube Channel Saga Hits which has over 12.9 million subscribers. In a suit before the High Court, it accused 71 rogue websites of displaying pirated content in violation of copyright laws..In an order passed on December 13, Justice Amit Bansal opined that the balance of convenience was clearly against the websites, which do not have authorization with respect to the works belonging to Unisys."It is submitted that if the illegal activities of the defendant websites are not restrained during the pendency of the present proceedings, plaintiffs shall suffer irreparable harm since it is submitted that the defendant Websites intend to continue to exploit the plaintiffs’ property with impunity, thereby, diminishing and diluting the value of the plaintiffs’ rights," the Court noted. .Accordingly, the Court restrained the 71 rogue websites from communicating, hosting, streaming and downloading the Unisys content. It also ordered the Domain Name Registrars (DNRs) to lock and suspend these websites. Further, the DNRS have been ordered to disclose the registration details of these domains. The Court also directed Google de-index or delist rogue websites..Further, the Court granted Unisys the liberty to approach authorities and internet service provides in case more such websites are discovered in the pendency of the case. “If during the pendency of the present suit, any further websites are discovered by the plaintiffs, which are illegally streaming the infringing content, copyright of which is owned by the plaintiffs, the plaintiffs are granted liberty to communicate the details of such websites to the defendant no. 101 (Department of Telecommunications) and the defendant no. 102 (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology), for issuance of blocking orders and simultaneously to the Internet Service Providers (“ISPs”) for blocking the said websites,” the Court said. The Court will hear the matter next on April 2, 2025. .Advocates Nikhil Chawla and Om Ram appeared for Unisys.Advocates Aditya Gupta and Sauhard Alung appeared for Google LLC.[Read Order]