The Delhi High Court in the case Sony Pictures Animation Inc. vs FLIXHD.CC/ & Ors observed and has restrained several rogue websites from posting and streaming the upcoming film ‘Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse’ and the ‘Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse’ wherein the court granted an interim relief to Sony Pictures Animation Inc.
The court in the case stated that the Defendants 1 to 101, as well as all others acting on behalf of them are being restrained from posting, streaming, reproducing, distributing or making available to the public, on their websites, or through the internet, in any manner whatsoever, any cinematograph work, content or program in which the plaintiff has copyright which include the film ‘Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse’.
It has also been directed by the said court that the internet service providers, ISPs in order to block the said websites.
The bench headed by Justice C. Hari in the case observed and has issued the direction in the suit moved by Sony Pictures Animation, wherein the court seek permanent injunction restraining over 100 rogue websites from posting and streaming the films.
It has also been stated by Sony before the court that the movie ‘Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse’ which is a sequel of the film Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse’, being slated to be released in India on June 2. Therefore, the court in the case was also informed that it has not licensed the broadcasting rights to the film to any other website.
It has also been alleged by sony in the case that the upcoming movie is being available for viewing on the various websites and several of whom have also been advertised the upcoming broadcast of the film.
Further, the counsel appearing for sony submitted before the court that the impugned websites eminently qualify the criteria wherein it has been prescribed by the Delhi High Court in the UTV Software Communication Ltd. vs 1337X. To. to characterise a website as the rogue website.
The court in the case observed while restraining the website that the ISPs to block access to them, as well as any mirror, redirect or alphanumeric websites which is being appeared to be associated with them.
Further, the bench in the case observed and has directed the Department of Telecommunications, DoT and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, MEITY in order to issue the notification wherein it called on all internet and telecom service providers to block the access to the websites.
Accordingly, the court listed the matter to be next heard on July 31, 2023 and has issued the summon in the suit.
The counsel, Advocates Mr. Saikrishna Rajagopal, Ms.Suhasini Raina, Ms.Ramya Ramkumar, Ms. Mehr Sidhu, Mr.Raghav Goyal, Mr. Sanidhya Rao and Ms.Anjali Agrawal appeared for the petitioner.