Delhi HC restrains rogue websites from streaming cricket World Cup matches

The Delhi High Court has reportedly passed an order that restricts rogue websites from broadcasting and streaming the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Star India holds the exclusive global media rights, including television and digital, to stream the World Cup. Disney+ Hotstar will be streaming the much-awaited cricket tournament for free. The World Cup matches are scheduled to be held from October 5 to November 19. 

Star India Pvt Ltd and Novi Digital Entertainment Pvt Ltd, which operates the Disney+ Hotstar platform, had filed a lawsuit in the HC saying that many websites are likely to indulge in unauthorised dissemination of the cricket match. 

As per a report, Justice Prathiba M Singh, responding to a lawsuit filed by Star India Pvt Ltd and Novi Digital Entertainment Pvt Ltd, said the World Cup cricket matches are “extremely popular, especially in the Indian subcontinent” and rogue websites, which in the past have also indulged in piracy, are likely to continue the authorised streaming. 

“…there is a need to restrain any rogue websites from disseminating and communicating to the public any part of the cricket match events without authorisation or license from the plaintiffs (Disney+ Hotstar),” the court was quoted.

The court has therefore restrained various “rogue websites”, which are alleged to stream illegal and pirated content, by an ad-interim order from communicating, screening, making available or disseminating any part of the ICC World Cup Cricket matches on any electronic or digital platform in any manner. 

Any websites that are seen violating the order are directed by the HC to be blocked and suspended by concerned authorities. The plaintiff would also have the right to communicate the details of such websites to the Department of Telecommunications and Ministry of Electronics for issuance of blocking orders.