Delhi High Court Directs 'Rogue Cyberlocker Websites' To Take Down Listings Of Copyrighted Content Of Netflix, Universal City Studios

The Delhi High Court has recently directed three alleged rogue cyberlocker websites and their operators to take down the listings of copyrighted content of leading entertainment companies like Netflix, Amazon, University City Studios and others.

Justice Anish Dayal further directed the rogue websites and their operators to disable all features from their platform allowing “regeneration of links and reuploading of infringing content” after takedown.

The court passed the interim order in a copyright infringement suit filed by Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Amazon Content Services LLC, Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Disney Enterprises, Inc., Netflix US, LLC, Paramount Pictures Corporation, Universal City Studios Productions LLP and Apple Video Programming LLC.

The suit was filed against the infringing websites Doodstream.com, doodstream.co and dood.stream and their two operators based in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

The entertainment companies sought permanent injunction against the websites and their operators from uploading or making available to public through their platforms any cinematographic work or content in relation to which they own copyright.

The plaintiffs alleged that the rogue cyberlocker websites were providing an infrastructure specifically designed to incentivise hosting, uploading, streaming and downloading of copyrighted material unauthorisedly.

It was further alleged that the websites created platforms which allow users to sign in and create their own dashboard through which they are permitted to upload content.

The counsel appearing for the impugned websites and operators that they were ready to comply with complete takedown in entirety of plaintiffs' infringed material exhaustively and completely from their platforms.

The court directed the websites and their operators to file an affidavit disclosing the revenues generated from the time of launch of said websites till date.

“Defendant 1 to 3, 5&6 shall file on affidavit in a tabulated fashion – firstly, number of requests for de-listing which they have received from any entity whatsoever, including plaintiffs herein, indicating details of content that was requested to be de- listed; and secondly, whether said content was available on their platforms/websites at any point thereafter, i.e., post the takedown sought for,” the court added.

Furthermore, the court permitted the plaintiff entertainment companies to monitor takedown of their infringing listings which they had communicated in the past and will communicate pursuant to the order, to the defendants.

Counsel for Plaintiffs: Mr. Saikrishna Rajagopal, Ms. Suhasini Raina, Ms. R. Ramya, Ms. Anjali Agrawal, Mr. Raghav Goyal, Ms. Mehr Sidhu, & Mr. Ayush Saxena, Advocates

Counsel for Defendants: Mr. K. S. Elangovan, Mr. Venkatesh Mohanraj, & Mr. Sameer Aslam, Advs. for D-5 & 6

Title: WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. & ORS. v. DOODSTREAM.COM & ORS.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 331

Click Here To Read Order