Download the Delhi HC order here [Original] & [Archived at MediaNama]
The Delhi High Court (HC) has directed the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to take action against Canadian domain name registrar Tucows Domains Inc. within two weeks in a copyright infringement case involving the Premier League.
What did the Delhi HC order say? In an order dated April 10, 2026, Justice Tushar Rao Gedela held that Tucows Domains Inc. had displayed “scant regard” for the orders of the Court.
“This is unpalatable and unacceptable and appears to be clear defiance of the orders of this Court as also the previous orders passed by this Court, which were complied with after coercive measures were undertaken by this Court,” said Justice Gedela.
The Delhi HC emphasised that Tucows Domains Inc. is offering its services and products in India and, therefore, is bound by the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
“It cannot be that the entity offers its goods and services in India and is able to appropriate financial gains and yet remain defiant and not submit to the jurisdiction of this Court,” the order reads.
The Delhi HC further observed that internet service providers (ISPs) and domain name registrars (DNRs) operating in India are obligated to appoint grievance officers to ensure compliance with court orders and IT Rules, 2021. However, Tucows was not in compliance with the local laws.
Tucows challenges the Delhi HC’s jurisdiction: The remarks followed Tucows Domains Inc.’s refusal to comply with an order issued by the Delhi HC in May 2025 requiring the DNR to block URLs found to be illegally hosting copyrighted content related to the Premier League.
- In an email dated September 30, 2025, the company said it wouldn’t block infringing URLs without a valid court order issued in Canada, Germany, Denmark, or the US.
Background of the case: The lawsuit was filed in 2025 by the Football Association Premier League, the organising body for football clubs in England and Wales, against SportsHub.Stream, Tucows Domains Inc., and several other websites hosting infringing material.
- These websites were found to have hosted English Premier League matches illegally throughout April 2025, thereby infringing on the plaintiff’s copyrighted works.
- While the Delhi HC, in its May 2025 order, directed domain name registrars, including Tucows Domains Inc., to block URLs carrying infringing content, the latter failed to comply with the directions even after several months.
Why this matters: This is not the first time Tucows Domains Inc. has drawn the ire of the Delhi HC in a copyright infringement case. In November 2022, the court had directed DoT and MeitY to file a status report on the action taken against non-compliant DNRs, including Tucows, whose platforms were found to be illegally streaming Asia Cup matches and thereby infringing Star India’s copyright works.
- Consequently, the DoT blocked the domain name ‘www.tucows.com’ in March 2023. While the ban has since been lifted, Tucows has not clarified whether it has complied with the previous court orders requiring it to block infringing URLs linked to it and to appoint grievance officers in compliance with the IT Rules, 2021. The case demonstrates that foreign intermediaries continue to host unlawful content on their websites in defiance of court orders and despite coercive government measures.
- As per the recent amendments to IT Rules, 2021, intermediaries are prohibited from hosting content that infringes on any patent, trademark, copyright, or other proprietary rights. If such unlawful content is hosted, the intermediary must remove it or disable access to it within three hours of receiving a court order or a government notification.
Previous instances of the Delhi HC blocking orders
- March 2026: The Delhi High Court issued global blocking orders directing ISPs to restrict access and to DNRs to suspend 79 websites involved in illegal streaming of Champions League content.
- December 2025: The Delhi HC granted a Dynamic+ injunction to Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Netflix, Disney Enterprises, Apple Inc., and Crunchyroll LLC, restraining dozens of websites from infringing their copyrighted works and directing domain name registrars and internet service providers to suspend and block access to these websites in India.
- June 2025: Ahead of the Indian Premier League and the England Tour of India 2025, the Delhi HC granted a superlative injunction directing the real-time blocking of URLs and mobile applications that illegally streamed cricket matches, for which Star India Private Limited held broadcast and streaming rights. Justice Saurabh Banerjee directed the immediate suspension of identified rogue websites.
- June 2024: Similarly, the Delhi HC directed the Indian government to issue blocking orders against streaming sites that illegally hosted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
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