Delhi High Court Permanently Injuncts 28 Rogue Websites From Pirating DAZN’s Exclusive Fury–Usyk Broadcast
Delhi High Court Permanently Injuncts 28 Rogue Websites From Pirating DAZN’s Exclusive Fury–Usyk Broadcast
Introduction
The Delhi High Court has permanently restrained 28 rogue websites from unlawfully streaming DAZN’s exclusive broadcast of the heavyweight boxing rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. The Court held that the unauthorised streaming of the event amounted to clear copyright infringement and caused irreparable harm to DAZN’s exclusive broadcast rights.
Factual Background
DAZN Limited, a global sports streaming platform, along with its Indian subsidiary, holds exclusive television, digital and ancillary media rights to broadcast the Tyson Fury–Oleksandr Usyk rematch in India. These rights were granted under a Rights Confirmation Letter dated December 8, 2024, in respect of the boxing event held on December 21, 2024.
DAZN discovered that several rogue websites were illegally hosting and streaming the live broadcast of the bout without authorisation. According to DAZN, these websites routinely upload infringing content, operate anonymously, and derive commercial benefit while eroding the value of exclusive broadcast rights.
Procedural Background
DAZN approached the Delhi High Court seeking injunctive relief against the infringing websites. On December 18, 2024, the Court granted an ex-parte ad-interim injunction directing domain registrars to suspend the impugned domain names, internet service providers to block access, and the Department of Telecommunications and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to ensure compliance. DAZN was also permitted to notify additional infringing websites for immediate blocking.
Despite service of summons, none of the 28 defendant websites appeared before the Court or filed written statements within the statutory period. The matter thereafter proceeded for final adjudication.
Issues
1. Whether the defendant websites had infringed DAZN’s exclusive broadcast and copyright rights by unauthorised streaming of the boxing event.
2. Whether DAZN was entitled to a permanent injunction in the absence of any defence from the defendants.
Contentions of the Parties
DAZN contended that it is the lawful and exclusive rights holder for broadcasting the Fury–Usyk rematch in India and that the defendants had no licence or authority to stream the event. It was argued that the continued operation of rogue websites causes significant revenue loss, dilutes exclusive rights, and encourages large-scale digital piracy.
The defendant websites neither entered appearance nor placed any defence on record, despite being duly served.
Reasoning and Analysis
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora noted that the defendants had failed to file written statements within the prescribed period under the Code of Civil Procedure. Relying on Order VIII Rule 10 CPC and the decision in Satya Infrastructure Ltd. v. Satya Infra & Estates Pvt. Ltd., the Court held that the averments in the plaint stood admitted and that no trial was required.
The Court observed that the defendants were rogue websites engaged in systematic copyright infringement by illegally streaming content over which DAZN held exclusive rights. Such conduct, the Court held, inevitably results in irreparable harm by causing revenue loss and undermining the commercial value of exclusive broadcasting agreements.
The Court further held that DAZN had successfully established ownership of copyright and broadcast reproduction rights, along with unauthorised exploitation by the defendants.
Decision
The Delhi High Court decreed the suit in favour of DAZN and granted a permanent injunction restraining all 28 defendant websites from hosting, streaming, broadcasting or making available DAZN’s copyrighted content in any manner. The earlier interim directions blocking and suspending the infringing domains were made absolute.
In this case the plaintiff was represented by Mr. Akshay Maloom and Ms. Ishi Singh, Advocates.
