The Delhi High Court has directed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to websites like Tamilrockers, EZTV, Katmovies and Limetorrents which are allegedly engaged in unauthorized streaming and distribution of movies and television series of production houses like Warner Bros, Universal and Netflix.
Justice Sanjeev Narula passed an interim order directing the ISPs to block access to all the URLs and IP addresses of these websites.
The Court also issued directions to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Information Technology to suspend the domain name registration of the websites infringing the copyright of production houses and to issue requisite notifications asking internet and telecom service providers to block such online sites.
A US-based entertainment company Warner Bros had filed the plea following which the order has been issued. It was contended that these sites were hosting, streaming and making available to the public its original content, as well as that of others like UTV, Star, Paramount, Universal and Netflix, without any authorization.
The Court in its order has restrained the websites from "hosting, streaming, reproducing, distributing, making available to the public and/or communicating to the public, or facilitating the same, in any manner, on their websites, through the internet any cinematograph work/content/programme/ show in relation to which plaintiff (Warner Bros) has copyright."
The Court after listening to the plea said that a prima facie case was made out that if an interim order was not passed, irreparable harm or injury would be caused to the company.
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