Delhi High Court takes BIG decision on Friends, Stranger Things, Squid Game; details inside

Friends and Stranger Things

The Delhi High Court has banned and ordered blocking of many websites from illegally streaming popular movies and shows like Friends, Stranger Things, Squid Game and Wonder Woman. Judge Tejas Karia issued the order against more than 160 websites on a plea that said Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. is the author, owner or sole distributor of films and shows in India and is therefore entitled to protection under intellectual property laws.

While granting the interim order, the court observed that the studio filed a prima facie case for the granting of unilateral relief, failing which the studio would suffer irreparable harm and serious financial losses. “Defendants 1 to 47, their owners and associates are restrained from hosting, publishing, reproducing, distributing, making available to the public and/or communicating with the public in any way, or making available the same on the internet on their websites, in any way whatsoever, the Plaintiffs’ Copyrighted Works, i.e. the cinematographic work/content/program/show in which the Plaintiffs have copyright or exclusive distribution rights/and/or any other right” the Court in its order dated 18 December 2025 said. he said.

Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. alleged that the infringing websites engaged in online piracy by accessing protected content of shows and movies such as Friends, Stranger Things – Seasons 1-4, Squid Game – Season 1, Finding Dory, The Jungle Book, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, A Star Is Born, and The Conjuring 2, making them available for illegal download.

The court took into account the “multi-minded nature” of the infringing websites and ordered a “dynamic injunction” against them to immediately combat the “imminent possibility” of copyrighted works being uploaded to the infringing websites or newer versions thereof. It also directed domain registrars to lock and suspend infringing websites and file all basic subscriber information including name, address, contact details, email addresses, banking details, IP logs and other relevant information available of website owners/operators within four weeks in a sealed cover/password protected document. The court also asked internet service providers to block access to infringing websites. (With inputs from PTI)

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