Delhi HC Grants ‘Dynamic+ Injunction’ to Warner Bros. and Other Studios Against 47 Piracy Websites [Read Order]

New Delhi: The High Court of Delhi has granted an ex parte ad interim injunction in favour of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and several other major global entertainment companies, directing the blocking of 47 “Infringing Websites” found to be engaging in online piracy of copyrighted works. The relief granted is a comprehensive ‘Dynamic+ injunction’, which extends protection to future and new versions of the infringing domains.

The order, issued by the Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tejas Karia on December 18, 2025, in Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. & Ors. v. Animesugez.to & Ors., acknowledged the Plaintiffs’ position as leading global entertainment companies and owners or exclusive distributors of numerous cinematographic films and shows. The Plaintiffs submitted that the infringing websites—including domains such as animesugez.to, popcornmovies.org, and various ‘pelisflix’ and ‘cuevana’ variants—were primarily and substantially engaged in unauthorised activities, including “communicating to the public, hosting, uploading, streaming, reproducing, downloading, broadcasting, distributing and/or making available to the public the Plaintiffs’ copyrighted works, without authorisation.”

After considering the submissions and documents on record, the Court observed that the infringing websites were, on a real-time basis, offering the Plaintiffs’ copyrighted works for viewing and downloading without their consent or a valid licence, resulting in financial losses to the Plaintiffs.

Finding a strong case for immediate intervention, the Court held:

“The Plaintiffs have made out a prima facie case for grant of an ex parte ad interim injunction. The balance of convenience is in favour of the Plaintiffs and against the infringing websites. Irreparable injury would be caused to the Plaintiffs if an ex parte ad interim injunction is not granted. The need for immediate relief is particularly pressing in this case, as the infringing websites are making available the Plaintiffs’ copyrighted works, which could lead to significant financial losses. Therefore, swift action to prevent the alleged infringements is crucial in the present case.”

The injunction restrains the 47 named websites, their owners, and all others acting on their behalf from “in any manner hosting, streaming, reproducing, distributing, making available to the public and/or communicating to the public, or facilitating the same, on their websites, the Plaintiffs’ copyrighted works.”

A key element of the judgment is the imposition of a ‘Dynamic+ injunction’, designed to combat the fluid and evolving nature of online piracy. The Court noted:

“To keep up with the hydra-headed nature of the infringement actions of such infringing domains/websites, this Court finds it fit to grant a ‘Dynamic+ injunction’ to protect the Plaintiffs’ copyrighted works as soon as they are created, to ensure that no irreparable loss is caused to the owners thereof, as there is an imminent possibility of the Plaintiffs’ copyrighted works being uploaded on infringing websites or their newer versions immediately thereafter.”

This provision allows the Plaintiffs to implead mirror, redirect, or alphanumeric variations of the infringing websites and extend the injunction against them by filing an appropriate application.

The Court further directed Domain Name Registrars (DNRs) to lock and suspend the infringing websites within 72 hours, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to the identified websites within the same timeframe. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITY), though formally arrayed as Defendants for the purpose of issuing blocking notifications, were exempted from the two months’ prior notice requirement under Section 80 of the CPC, considering the urgency of the relief sought.

Case Details:

Case Name: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. & Ors. v. Animesugez.to & Ors.

Case Number: CS(COMM) 1361/2025

Court: High Court of Delhi

Bench: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tejas Karia

Date of Order: 18.12.2025

Counsel for Plaintiffs: Mr. Siddharth Chopra, Mr. Raghav Goyal, Ms. Mehr Sidhu, Mr. A. Moin & Mr. Aditya Singh Thakur, Advocates

Counsel for Defendants: Mr. Yash Raj & Ms. Geetanjali Vishwanathan, Advocates (for Defendant Nos. 48 & 56)

[Read Order]