The Delhi High Court ordered 8 cricket piracy sites blocked, a win for Sony Pictures Networks. The ex parte order came mid-way through two England cricket tours, highlighting a crucial IP enforcement battle. Millions of potential viewers on platforms like Sony LIV now face fewer unauthorized streaming options.
How We Got Here
Sony Pictures Networks India holds exclusive media rights to major cricket events from boards like England and Wales Cricket Board. The Delhi HC has previously established a "rogue website" precedent for systemic copyright infringement, paving the way for such orders.
The Numbers
- Justice Jyoti Singh issued the ex parte order, prioritizing Sony's prima facie case over defendants one through eight.
- Eight rogue domains, including cricfree.cyou and crichd.top, were registered across five different domain registrars.
- India's telecom and IT ministries must now issue blocking directives to all internet service providers nationwide.
- Sony's lawyers cited the sites' use of domain-privacy services, hindering operator identification and contact.
What Happens Next
🇮🇳 Why This Matters for India
For media companies in Mumbai and content platforms across Bangalore, this ruling sets a strong precedent for protecting digital distribution revenue and intellectual property.
The Take
Sony wins this round, but online content piracy remains a hydra. Effective long-term IP protection for platforms like Sony LIV demands real-time detection and proactive takedowns.
Source:
MediaNama ↗