The Delhi High Court has restrained seven specific websites and others that may emerge from broadcasting the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Star India has exclusive rights for live streaming the T20 World Cup matches on its Linear TV channel and OTT platform Disney+Hotstar.
Justice Sanjeev Narula, in response to a plea from Star India, stated that an interim injunction was required to avoid Star incurring losses. The Star network is the official global media rights holder for ICC in a deal which is worth $2.1bn for a period of eight years, the deal runs until the year 2022-23 and was signed back in 2015-16.
The seven rogue websites mentioned in the order are filmyclub.wapzik.com, ipl.hitcric.tv, tamilblasters.win, uptomovie.xvy, doratv-ipl.wapzik.com, thdtvworld.xyz and zolhdtv.com. The court order also stated that if Star finds any other similar websites streaming the tournament, the interim order of junction would also apply to them.
The suit was filed by Star India, who has exclusive media rights to broadcast the tournament argued that, the seven websites had illegally broadcasted the Indian Premier League, for which also the Star network holds exclusive rights. The court also directed the centre to issue notification calling upon internet and telecom service providers to block access to such websites.
The T20 World Cup which is hosted by India began on October 17 and will conclude on November 14. The tournament is being played in the UAE and Oman after the competition was shifted from India due to the Coivd-19 situation in the country. Team India is set to face Pakistan in their opening fixture of the tournament on October 24.