Delhi High Court Passes 'Dynamic+' Injunction To Protect Copyrighted Works Of Warner Bros, Netflix & Others

The Delhi High Court has recently passed a dynamic+ injunction to protect the copyrighted works of Warner Bros, Netflix, Disney and other global entertainment companies.

Justice Saurabh Banerjee was dealing with a suit filed by global entities against 45 rogue websites seeking to restrain them from hosting and streaming their copyrighted works in various movies and shows.

The suit was filed by Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Disney Enterprises, Inc., Netflix US, LLC, SBS Co. Ltd., SLL Joongagng Co. Ltd. and CJ ENM Co. Ltd.

It was alleged that the infringing websites were carrying and disseminating the copyrighted content without any license or authorization from the entertainment companies.

Justice Banerjee said that it was a classic case exhibiting the evolution of “hydra-headed” DNRs or websites for streaming and making available to the public any copyrighted content without appropriate licensing.

“Technology, certainly has its (ill)effects, which can be (mis)utilized if there is no proper channelisation. It may be a 'boon' for one, but if it is without any right, it can (soon) prove to be a 'bane' as well,” the court said.

It added that the mushrooming of the rogue websites, clubbed by their blatant and utter slavish activities with ulterior purposes, cannot be allowed to continue.

The court passed an ex parte ad interim injunction and restrained the rogue websites from streaming or hosting the copyrighted works of the plaintiffs. It further ordered that access to the infringing websites be blocked by internet service providers.

“The present is a situation where the defendants herein are like a sapling with very few branches and will soon grow into a big tree with many branches and deep roots. The defendants, as also anyone like them, need to be stopped as earliest as possible and they are required to abide by any such order passed by a Court of Law, both in the present as also in the future, which being binding upon them, has to be followed and adhered by them in letter and spirit,” the court said.

Title: WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. & ORS. v. MOVIESMOD.BET & ORS.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 1028

Click here to read order