Curbing Digital Piracy: Delhi HC Deploys 'Dynamic+' Injunction to Protect FIFA Broadcasts

In a proactive move to tackle the growing menace of digital piracy during major sporting events, the Delhi High Court has granted a 'dynamic+' injunction in favor of DAZN Limited. The order, passed by Justice Saurabh Banerjee in DAZN Limited & Anr. v. Buffsports.me & Ors. , seeks to shield the broadcaster's exclusive media rights for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup 2025 from rogue websites.

The Battle for the Screen

DAZN Limited—a global sports streaming platform with operations in India via DAZN Software Private Limited—secured exclusive worldwide broadcasting rights for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, scheduled to take place from June 14 to July 13, 2025.

The trouble began when investigators discovered that several "rogue" websites—including buffsports.me and others—were systematically circumventing the company's streaming technology to host pirated broadcasts of content. Leveraging Section 37 of the Copyright Act, 1957, DAZN argued that they hold the exclusive right to re-broadcast, re-transmit, and communicate these works to the public.

A Shield Against "Masked Players"

Finding the defendants to be engaging in unabashed intellectual property theft, Justice Banerjee didn't mince words. The court observed that the proliferation of these sites, which use technology to mask their identities, poses a severe threat to commercial rights holders.

"The present case, prima facie, appears to be a classic case of copyright infringement by masked players who use the veil of today’s technology to conveniently conceal their true identities and unabashedly abuse and enrich themselves," the Court remarked.

The 'Dynamic+' Approach

Recognizing the limitations of static injunctions in the fast-paced world of the internet, the Court granted what is known as a 'dynamic+' injunction. This allows the plaintiffs to approach the court for the blocking of mirror or redirect domains that might emerge during the pendency of the litigation without the need for filing new suits.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Domain Name Registrars (DNRs) have been directed to block access to the infringing websites on a real-time basis upon receiving notice from the plaintiffs. The court also impleaded the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology as stakeholders to ensure effective compliance.

Key Observations

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the Court noted:

• "If the same is not done, undoubtedly the legitimate rights of parties like the plaintiff herein would be put in serious jeopardy."
• "The plaintiff has been able to make out a prima facie case in its favour and against the defendants and the balance of convenience is also tilting towards the grant of relief."
• "Any delay in blocking these 'rogue websites' would, in fact, result in irreparable loss and injury to the plaintiffs."

Implications for Future Media Rights

By invoking this specialized form of relief, the Delhi High Court has once again signaled that it will not tolerate the exploitation of copyrighted sports property. This ruling serves as a vital precedent for broadcasters, ensuring that legal remedies are as swift and agile as the digital content they seek to protect. The case is now listed for further proceedings on October 8, 2025.

Decision Summary: The petition for an ex parte ad interim injunction was allowed. The defendants are restrained from streaming the content covered by the exclusive rights of the plaintiffs, and authorities have been directed to enforce real-time blocking of infringing domains as they appear.