Madras HC restrained 12,000 websites for illegal 2022 FIFA broadcasting.

Case: Viacom18 Media Private Limited v Bharath Sanchar Nigam Limited and others

Recently, the Madras High Court granted an interim injunction in favor of Viacom18, restraining more than 12,000 websites from illegally broadcasting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Justice M Sundar said that Viacom had demonstrated that it was the sole owner of the copyright for the event.

Viacom18 filed a suit before the HC exclusivity claiming over broadcasting FIFA World Cup 2022 in Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, ad Pakistan. Viacom had all the requisite broadcasting rights for the event. It even submitted a letter issued by FIFA confirming its rights. It also submited a list of 12,037 websites over whom Viacom claimed its exclusive copyrights. 

After hearing Viacom, the Court held that if it did not grant an interim injunction, an irreparable injury would be caused to Viacom. 

The Court gave liberty to the respondent ISPs to block such infringing websites. 

The Court will consider the matter on December 16.