Websites Streaming ‘Serie A Championship’ Without Authorization Restrained from Broadcasting Content: Delhi High Court
Safiya Malik
The High Court of Delhi, Single Bench of Justice Tejas Karia has restrained 26 rogue websites from unlawfully streaming live matches of the ongoing Serie A Championship. Acting on a plea by DAZN Limited, the exclusive broadcast rights holder of the event, the Court granted an ex parte ad-interim injunction prohibiting unauthorized transmission of the matches. It further directed internet service providers and domain registrars to immediately block access to the infringing platforms. The plaintiffs, global sports media rightsholders, alleged that the websites were broadcasting their live content without authorization, causing substantial commercial and reputational harm. Taking note of the continuing infringement, the Court also permitted dynamic blocking of any additional domains engaged in similar illegal streaming during the tournament.
The plaintiffs, global media rightsholders, filed a commercial suit before the High Court of Delhi seeking a permanent injunction restraining various websites and associated entities from infringing their broadcast reproduction and copyright rights over the ongoing sporting event “Serie A Championship.” The plaintiffs submitted that they had acquired exclusive global media rights comprising television, digital, and ancillary rights from Lega Calcio Serie A (LCA) as confirmed by a Rights Confirmation Letter dated 10 October 2025. The suit was directed against multiple categories of defendants—Defendant Nos. 1 to 26 were alleged rogue websites unlawfully streaming or hosting the event; Defendant Nos. 27 to 36 were Domain Name Registrars (DNRs); Defendant Nos. 37 to 45 were Internet Service Providers (ISPs); and Defendant Nos. 46 and 47, being the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), were arrayed to facilitate enforcement of any injunction.
The plaintiffs asserted that the identified websites had been streaming the plaintiffs’ DAZN feeds by circumventing their proprietary broadcast systems and were offering unlicensed live access to the event, causing immediate economic loss and market dilution. Supporting evidence included screenshots, domain details, and a record of unauthorized streams. The plaintiffs relied on Section 37 of the Copyright Act, 1957, arguing that any unauthorized communication or broadcast of their licensed content constituted an infringement of their exclusive rights. They sought real-time blocking of the infringing websites, contending that failure to restrain their operation would result in irreparable harm.
The Court considered the plaintiffs’ applications for exemption from pre-litigation mediation and statutory notice under Section 80 CPC, both of which were allowed in view of the urgent nature of the relief sought. Notices were issued to the defendants, and an ex parte ad-interim injunction was sought under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2 CPC.
The Court recorded that a prima facie case has been made out by the Plaintiffs for the grant of an ex-parte ad-interim injunction. It stated that the Event is broadcasted through the Plaintiffs’ website and mobile application namely DAZN, which is accessible across a variety of digital devices including computers, smartphones, tablets, and other electronic gadgets.
The Court observed that the Plaintiffs have secured the Exclusive Rights for various events, including the Event as specified in the Rights Confirmation Letter dated 10.10.2025, through considerable financial investment. It recorded that the apprehension of unauthorized dissemination, telecasting, or broadcasting of the Event on Defendant Nos. 1 to 26 shall pose a significant threat to the Plaintiffs’ revenue streams undermining the value of the considerable investment made by the Plaintiffs in acquiring the Exclusive Rights.
The Court stated that the broadcast content, including footage, commentary, and other composite elements, is fully safeguarded under the Act. Therefore, the unauthorized use of these elements shall also infringe upon the copyright protections accorded to the broadcast content under the Exclusive Rights.
Referring to prior judicial precedents, the Court cited the decision in Universal City Studios LLC v. Dotmovies.baby, 2023:DHC:5842, where a ‘Dynamic+’ injunction was granted to protect content produced during and after the pendency of the suit. The Court quoted that “Any injunction granted by a Court of law ought to be effective in nature... the injunction ought to also not merely extend to content which is past content created prior to the filing of the suit but also to content which may be generated on a day-to-day basis by the Plaintiffs.”
It further recorded that given the fact that the Plaintiffs’ Exclusive Rights, as acquired from LCA, are in question, if an ex-parte ad-interim injunction is not granted at this stage, irreparable harm would be caused to the Plaintiffs. The Court stated that the balance of convenience also lies in favour of the Plaintiffs. Recognizing the live nature of the broadcast, the Court observed that any delay in blocking access to Defendant Nos. 1 to 26 or other rogue websites providing the Impugned Services could lead to financial losses and an irreparable breach of the Exclusive Rights.
The Court directed that “Defendant Nos. 1 to 26, their owners, partners, proprietors, officers, servants, employees and all others acting for and on their behalf... are restrained from hosting, streaming, broadcasting, rebroadcasting, retransmitting, exhibiting, making available for viewing/downloading, providing access to and/or communicating to the public... any part of the Event i.e., ‘Serie A Championship’ in any manner whatsoever so as to infringe the Plaintiffs’ Exclusive Rights.”
“Defendant Nos. 27 to 36 shall block and suspend the Domain Names of Defendant Nos. 1 to 26 immediately upon service of a copy of this Order” and “Defendant Nos. 46 and 47 shall issue necessary directions to all ISPs for blocking/removing access to the websites as specified.” The plaintiffs were directed to ensure compliance and file affidavits of newly discovered infringing sites.
Advocates Representing the Parties
For the Plaintiffs: Mr. Siddharth Chopra, Mr. Yatinder Garg, Mr. Priyansh Kohli, and Ms. Ishi Singh, Advocates
For the Defendants: Ms. Nidhi Raman, Mr. Mayank Sansanwal, and Mr. Om Ram, Advocates
Case Title: DAZN Limited & Anr. v. 9GOALS.IO & Ors.
Case Number: CS(COMM) 1152/2025
Bench: Justice Tejas Karia
