Delhi HC orders blockade of websites illegally streaming Netflix, Disney, and others

New Delhi: In a significant development, the Delhi High Court has directed several Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and government authorities to block access to 40 websites that illegally stream and allow download of content owned by Netflix, Disney, Warner Brothers, and other major studios. Justice Amit Bansal passed the order, noting that the plaintiffs have a prima facie case in their favour and that irreparable loss would be caused to them if these rogue websites are not injuncted.

According to the court order, the defendants, which include anonymous websites and platforms, are restrained from hosting, streaming, reproducing, distributing, making available to the public, and/or communicating to the public any cinematographic work, content, program, or show in relation to which plaintiffs have a copyright.

The studios that approached the court against these websites, including Universal City Studios LLC, Warner Bros, Entertainment Inc, Columbia Picture Industries, Netflix Studios, Paramount Pictures Corporation, and Disney Enterprises, argued that these platforms enable streaming and downloading of their content without any authorization or license.

Despite legal notices being served on the defendant's websites, they continued to infringe on the plaintiff's original content. The majority of the defendant's websites are anonymous in nature, and the information provided in the public domain regarding the owners of the website is either incomplete, incorrect, or protected behind a veil of secrecy, according to the plaintiffs.

After considering the case, the court restrained the websites from hosting any content belonging to the plaintiffs. This ruling will be welcomed by the entertainment industry, which has been grappling with the menace of piracy for a long time. The decision will help to curb the illegal distribution of copyrighted content and protect the interests of content creators and copyright holders.