Dream11 Draws the Line: Delhi HC Cracks Down on 'Come Sports' Copycats

In a swift move to safeguard one of India's biggest fantasy sports brands, the Delhi High Court has granted ex parte ad interim injunctions to Sporta Technologies Private Limited, the powerhouse behind Dream11. Justice Jyoti Singh, presiding over CS(COMM) 181/2026, restrained rogue operator "Come Sports" and others from mimicking Dream11's trademarks and app interface. The court also directed the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to block access to 21 infringing websites, underscoring the urgency in combating digital IP theft.

From Fantasy Leader to Rogue Hunter: The Backstory

Dream11, launched in 2012 , has become synonymous with fantasy sports entertainment in India and beyond, boasting over 200 million users and partnerships with giants like BCCI, IPL, and ICC. Sporta Technologies claims extensive trademark registrations for "Dream11," "Dream Sports," and related marks, alongside copyright in its app's user interface—layout, colors, icons, and all.

Trouble brewed in late December 2025 when ads for "Come x Dream11," "Come Sports," and similar popped up on Facebook and Instagram. Investigations revealed rogue apps downloadable via APK files from domains like come-dream11.com and comesports.in. These apps not only aped Dream11's marks but replicated its entire look and feel, even extracting footage from old Dream11 ads, positioning themselves as a "comeback version" of the original. User complaints flooded in by January-February 2026 , alleging deception in real-money gaming contests—a sector freshly regulated under the Online Gaming Act, 2025 , which bans such games.

Sporta filed the suit seeking urgent relief, securing exemptions from pre-institution mediation and advance notice to government defendants, citing time-sensitive harms.

Plaintiff's Blitz: Exposing the Blatant Rip-Off

With no response yet from defendants (notice issued, returnable April 17, 2026 ), Sporta laid out a watertight case. Key arguments:

  • Trademark Onslaught : Impugned marks like "Come x Dream11" are deceptively similar , diluting Dream11's goodwill built through crores in ads and massive revenues.
  • Copyright Cloning : The rogue apps mirror Dream11's UI, graphics, and structure—original artistic works under the Copyright Act, 1957 .
  • Passing Off Peril : Users are tricked into believing affiliation, risking financial loss in illegal real-money games.
  • Rogue Network : 21 domains, social media blitz via Google/Meta, and APK downloads fuel nationwide infringement.

Sporta backed claims with screenshots, revenue figures, ad spends, and a pen drive of video evidence, emphasizing irreparable harm to its reputation.

Court's Razor-Sharp Reasoning: Prima Facie Deception Clear

Justice Singh meticulously compared visuals: Dream11's logos and promos side-by-side with "Come Sports'" knock-offs. She noted deliberate imitation to "cash-in on the goodwill," violating Trade Marks Act, 1999 (Section 28 exclusive rights) and common law passing off protections.

Precedents bolstered the ruling: - Yamini Manohar v. T.K.D. Keerthi (2024, Supreme Court ): Exempted urgent cases from pre-mediation. - Chandra Kishore Chaurasia v. RA Perfumery Works (2022, Delhi HC DB ): Reinforced mediation exemptions.

The balance tipped decisively: prima facie case made, irreparable injury to plaintiff, convenience favoring restraint.

Key Observations

  1. "Plaintiff has made out a prima facie [case] for grant of ex parte ad interim injunction. Balance of convenience lies in favour of the Plaintiff and it is likely to suffer irreparable harm in case the interim injunction, as prayed for, is not granted." (Para 32)

  2. "From a plain comparison as brought forth in the above table, Plaintiff prima facie is correct that Defendant No. 1 has deliberately and with an intent to cash-in on the goodwill and reputation of the Plaintiff launched its ‘Come’/‘Come Sports’ real money fantasy gaming..." (Para 34)

  3. "Defendant No. 1 is using Plaintiff’s marks as well as an unauthorizedly extracted footage from Plaintiff’s old video advertisements and claims itself to be a ‘comeback version’ of ‘Dream11’ app..." (Para 33)

  4. "Any use of the mark or the image, which is visually, phonetically, literally and/or structurally similar to ‘Dream11’ marks is liable to confuse unwary members of the public..." (Para 26)

Lockdown on the Copycats: Injunction and Blocks Enforced

The operative orders are muscular: - TILL April 17, 2026 : "Come Sports" barred from using Dream11-like marks in domains, apps, ads, or anywhere causing infringement, dilution, or passing off . No reproducing app UI or ad footage. - Domain Purge : DoT/MeitY to notify ISPs blocking all 21 listed sites (Annexure A). - Sporta freed to alert platforms like Google, Meta, and others directly.

Plaintiff must serve under Order XXXIX Rule 3 CPC within a week. As echoed in reports, this curbs a deceptive ecosystem preying on fans amid gaming law shifts.

Ripple Effects: A Win for Digital IP Guardians

This interim shield not only halts immediate harm but signals zero tolerance for rogue apps in India's booming online gaming space. Future operators beware: mimicking established brands invites swift judicial blocks, potentially reshaping enforcement against IP pirates in fantasy and beyond.