The Delhi High Court has taken a strong stand against online piracy, issuing a sweeping interim order to protect popular shows and films such as Friends, Stranger Things, and several major Hollywood titles from illegal streaming and downloads.
Justice Tejas Karia passed the direction while hearing a plea filed by Warner Bros Entertainment Inc, which stated that it is the author, owner, or exclusive distributor of the concerned content in India and is therefore entitled to protection under intellectual property laws.
Court Bans Over 160 Piracy Websites
In its order dated December 18, 2025, the court restrained more than 160 websites from hosting, streaming, reproducing, distributing, or making Warner Bros’ copyrighted content available to the public in any form.
The court noted that Warner Bros had established a prima facie case and said that denying immediate relief would result in irreparable harm and significant financial losses to the studio.
The order explicitly bars the infringing platforms from facilitating access to copyrighted films and shows through the internet “in any manner whatsoever.”
Shows and Films Covered Under the Order
According to Warner Bros, the piracy websites were illegally offering access to a wide range of high-profile titles, including:
- Friends
- Stranger Things (Seasons 1–4)
- Squid Game (Season 1)
- Finding Dory
- The Jungle Book
- Suicide Squad
- Wonder Woman
- A Star Is Born
- The Conjuring 2
The court acknowledged the scale of infringement and the commercial impact of such illegal distribution.
‘Dynamic Injunction’ to Tackle Repeat Offenders
Taking note of what it described as the “hydra-headed nature” of piracy websites — where blocked platforms often resurface under new domains — the Delhi HC granted a dynamic injunction. This allows Warner Bros to act swiftly against new or mirror websites that attempt to upload the same copyrighted content in the future.
ISPs and Domain Registrars Directed to Act
The court also issued clear instructions to multiple stakeholders:
- Domain name registrars were directed to lock and suspend the infringing websites
- Registrars must submit detailed subscriber information of website owners/operators, including names, addresses, contact details, bank information, and IP logs, in a sealed or password-protected format within four weeks
- Internet service providers (ISPs) were ordered to block access to the infringing websites across India
Final Words
The ruling is being seen as a major win for content creators and studios battling digital piracy in India. With a dynamic injunction in place and stricter compliance from ISPs and domain registrars, the order sends a clear message that large-scale copyright infringement will face serious legal consequences.
