Delhi High Court Restrains Rogue Websites Exploiting IMDb URL Structure To Stream Pirated Films Of Universal Studios
The websites redirected users from legitimate IMDb title pages to unauthorised streaming interfaces by manipulating IMDb Title IDs and domain structures.
Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has granted an ex-parte ad-interim injunction, protecting cinematograph works owned by Universal City Studios Productions LLLP by restraining several rogue Indian websites from unauthorised streaming of content. The Bench addressed a deceptive modus operandi whereby users were redirected from legitimate IMDb title pages to unauthorised streaming interfaces merely by altering the domain structure while retaining the same IMDb Title ID.
The Court observed that the architecture of these websites was predominantly structured to facilitate large-scale copyright infringement while appearing as a natural extension of a legitimate service.
Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed, “This court prima facie finds that the defendants violate the plaintiff’s copyright by operating rogue websites specifically designed to enable unauthorized access to the plaintiff’s protected cinematograph films, including titles such as Fast X, F9: The Fast Saga, and The Secret Life of Pets 2, without any permission, license, or authorization. Defendant Nos. 1 and 2 (playimdb.com and streamimdb.ru) exploit IMDb’s legitimate URL structure by instructing users to simply insert the word “play” before “imdb” in an IMDb title page URL, thereby redirecting users from the legitimate platform to a rogue domain that then streams the plaintiff’s copyrighted content through an embedded unauthorized video player sourcing from pirate libraries or cyberlockers…”.
Advocate Saikrishna Rajgopal appeared for the plaintiff and Satya Ranjan Swain, CGSC appeared for the defendant.
Universal City Studios, a prominent entertainment company, filed the suit to protect its exclusive rights in numerous acclaimed films, including Fast X and The Secret Life of Pets 2. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants operated rogue websites like playimdb.com and streamimdb.ru, which utilised a unique technical manipulation.
Users were instructed to locate a film on the official IMDb website and then manually modify the URL by inserting "play" before "imdb". This alteration redirected users to unauthorized streaming interfaces where copyrighted content was made available without any license or authorization from the plaintiff.
The plaintiff approached the Court seeking urgent interim relief under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2 CPC. During the initial proceedings, the Court granted an exemption from pre-institution mediation due to the urgent nature of the interim relief sought.
The plaintiff established its prima facie ownership of the copyrighted works and demonstrated how the defendants were facilitating infringement through instructional material and embedded players.
The Bench noted that the adoption of the "IMDb" name in their domains reflected a dishonest intent to exploit the database’s recognition.
“…Such conduct, coupled with the use of domain names incorporating the expression “IMDb”, prima facie reflects dishonest adoption intended to exploit the goodwill and recognition associated with IMDb and to induce users into accessing infringing streams under the guise of legitimacy. The plaintiff has further established prima facie ownership and exclusive rights in several cinematograph films, including Fast X, F9: The Fast Saga and The Secret Life of Pets 2, protection whereof is recognized under the Copyright Act, 1957”, it said.
The Court noted that the defendants were not passive intermediaries but active facilitators of infringement through sophisticated redirection mechanisms. It held that the balance of convenience favored the plaintiff, as the continued operation of such sites would cause irreparable commercial and statutory injury.
“This Court is also satisfied that the activities attributed to the defendants amount, prima facie, to unauthorized hosting, streaming, reproduction, communication and making available of copyrighted content to the public in violation of Sections 14 and 51 of the Copyright Act, 1957. The pleadings indicate that the defendants are not passive intermediaries but are actively facilitating infringement through embedded players, redirect mechanisms, backend source resolution systems and instructional material guiding users on how to access pirated content”, it further observed.
Accordingly, the Court restrained defendant nos. 1 to 6 and any associated mirror websites from hosting, streaming, or making available the plaintiff’s copyrighted content. Domain Name Registrars (DNRs) were directed to lock and suspend the infringing domains and provide registrant details, including KYC and payment information, to the plaintiff within 72 hours.
Furthermore, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and government departments (DoT and MEITY) were ordered to block access to the identified infringing websites. The Court also granted dynamic relief, allowing the plaintiff to implead any newly discovered mirror websites during the pendency of the suit.
Cause Title: Universal City Studios Productions LLLP v. Playimdb.com & Ors. CS(COMM) 492/2026
Appearances:
Plaintiff: Saikrishna Rajgopal, Siddharth Chopra, Suhasini Raina, Mehr Sidhu, Raghav Goyal, Affain Moin and Aditya Thakur, Advocates.
Defendants: Satya Ranjan Swain, CGSC, Naveen, GP.