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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday passed an ad-interim order blocking access to rogue websites which were gearing up to unlawfully release the upcoming movie ‘Ram Setu’ starring actors Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nushrratt Bharucha, Satyadev Kancharana and Pravesh Rana.

The order passed by the bench of Justice Jyoti Singh blocks access to not only the listed rogue websites but also any future mirror websites or websites with similar domain names created by the anonymous pirates for infringing on copyrighted content.

The makers of the movie 'Ram Setu', Cape of Good Films LLP through Parinam Law Associates moved the high court seeking permanent injunction restraining 23 rogue websites from hosting, streaming, communicating in any manner, and/or making available for viewing and downloading, without authorization, on their websites or other platforms, the contents of the upcoming film 'Ram Setu'.

The petitioners alleged that the websites concerned had been gearing up for publishing/hosting the movie 'Ram Setu' by creating webpages bearing the name and posters of the film and promising to provide for streaming or downloading the movie.

The maker's plea further alleged that these websites are sites that actively and habitually infringe third-party copyrights by publishing unauthorized copies of the protected films or which function as a directory facilitating infringement of third-party copyrights.

Parinam Law Associates informed LawBeat that this marks the first time that a court has granted an order of such a kind that truly protects the rights of a copyright holder in the age of the internet.

"Basis this order in the future prior to release, any producer can request the government authorities to block websites that are showing any pirated content. The impact of modification is huge and it will help the producer to simply apply instead of repeatedly going to court and seeking blocking of the website," they added.

Case Title: Cape of Good Films LLP Vs. Hitmovies4u.live & Ors.