JioStar initiates legal measures against Zee entertainment for alleged unauthorised airing of Bollywood films: Report
Jiostar, billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s TV and online entertainment venture backed by Reliance and Walt Disney, has launched a legal battle against Zee Entertainment, alleging that the streamer has released several Bollywood movies without permission despite JioStar owning the distribution rights. Reuters report.
In its 120-page defense, JioStar, which was formed through the $8.5 billion merger of Reliance Industries and The Walt Disney Company’s Indian media assets, alleged that Zee continued “unauthorized streaming and use of movies”, calling it a “habitual infringer”.
The legal application has not been previously disclosed.
The plea was submitted to the Legal Services Committee of the Delhi High Court, which facilitates mediation and other mechanisms to help the parties reach an amicable solution. According to the report, if the dispute is not resolved through this process, JioStar may take the matter to court.
According to the documents, the committee directed Zee Entertainment Enterprises to attend the hearing on May 25, warning that failure to attend would be considered a decision to refuse to participate in the mediation process.
According to JioStar’s complaint, Zee has aired 12 different movies comprising major hits featuring notable actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan almost 20 times.
This comes after Zee Entertainment Enterprises approached a Delhi court in April, alleging that JioStar was using its copyrighted music without permission. In what appears to be a retaliatory step, JioStar filed a lawsuit before a legal mediation panel on May 4, accusing Zee of releasing several Bollywood movies in 2025 even though the broadcast rights belonged to the Reliance-led company at the time, the report said.
In the copyright dispute filed in April, Zee is seeking $3 million in damages, alleging that JioStar used its music more than 50 times after the relevant licensing agreements expired.
JioStar expected to charge more ₹Although the final amount has not yet been determined, compensation of 250 million (approximately $2.61 million) has reportedly been paid for alleged unauthorized use of rights to various Bollywood films. Reuters Quoting two people familiar with the subject.
Documents show the film rights dispute reached the mediation stage before the court-appointed committee after the two companies exchanged more than a dozen legal notices and letters starting in February 2025.
The films at the center of the dispute include iconic box office hits such as Deewaar, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Tridev. JioStar claimed that it holds the broadcasting rights of these games and Zee Entertainment Enterprises is broadcasting them without permission.
Zee said the telecasts were unintentional and unintentional, adding that more care would be taken in the future. However, the company denied any liability for the damages claimed by Reliance.
What did JioStar and Zee say about the release of Dangal movie?
JioStar also alleged that Zee aired the 2016 film Dangal, based on the life of an Indian wrestler, starring Aamir Khan, without proper permission. The film was a huge commercial success and received many awards. On the other hand, Zee also denied the allegations regarding Dangal and claimed that it had received permission from the film’s production house to release the film.
JioStar is the biggest player in India’s nearly $30 billion media and entertainment market, while Zee, one of the country’s oldest broadcast groups, operates as a smaller rival. The two companies are also involved in a $1 billion arbitration case in London over a cricket rights deal that expires in 2024.
JioStar and Zee Entertainment Enterprises are watched by hundreds of millions of people through their vast network of television channels and streaming services. According to Reliance, JioStar has a 34.2% share in the Indian television market, while Zee said its market share has increased to a four-year high of 18%.
Meanwhile, as per the report, JioStar and Zee refused to comment on the issue. Zee’s shares continued their decline, falling 3.4% in Mumbai trade.
