Delhi HC orders real-time blocking of rogue sites streaming ICC Women’s World Cup

103

The Delhi High Court has ordered real-time blocking of unauthorised websites illegally streaming the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, following a petition by official broadcasters seeking urgent intervention against piracy.

Justice Sanjeev Narula, presiding over the matter, instructed internet service providers (ISPs) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to ensure that infringing links and mirror domains are disabled as soon as they are detected. The court also issued a “dynamic injunction” — a mechanism allowing continuous takedown of future URLs sharing pirated live content.

The petition was filed by Disney Star, the exclusive media rights holder for ICC events in India, which argued that unauthorised live streams cause “irreparable commercial and reputational harm” to legitimate broadcasters.

The ruling builds on the precedent set by previous “site-blocking” cases, where courts granted real-time injunctions for major sporting tournaments, including the IPL and FIFA World Cup. The decision underscores the judiciary’s growing role in addressing the economic and digital security challenges posed by online piracy.

Legal experts note that the judgment signals a strong deterrent against illegal streaming, which continues to plague the sports entertainment industry. With India’s OTT and sports streaming markets expanding rapidly, such judicial interventions are seen as critical to protecting intellectual property and maintaining fair competition.