The Delhi High Court issued an ex parte interim injunction on June 3 to block five pirate streaming websites illegally broadcasting the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) and advertising unauthorized streams of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The order protects Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, which holds the broadcast rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, from copyright infringement during these tournaments, according to medianama.com.
Zee Entertainment filed the petition after detecting unauthorized streams on these websites. Justice Saurabh Banerjee granted the injunction, directing internet service providers, domain name registrars, the Department of Telecommunications, and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to block access to the infringing sites. The court also extended protection to future mirror websites and rogue mobile applications that may emerge during the tournaments, emphasizing the need to prevent irreparable loss to the rights holder.
This ruling underscores the judiciary’s increasing support for content owners in combating digital piracy amid rising illegal streaming of premium sports events. Zee’s acquisition of exclusive broadcast rights for multiple FIFA tournaments highlights the commercial stakes involved. The order aligns with broader efforts to safeguard intellectual property rights in India’s expanding digital media market, where piracy threatens revenue streams and undermines licensed broadcasters.
The court’s injunction remains in effect during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and IPL seasons, with authorities mandated to enforce the blocking of identified pirate platforms. The full court order dated June 3 is publicly available on medianama.com, providing a legal precedent for future anti-piracy actions in Indian sports broadcasting.