Key Takeaways
- Zee Entertainment has filed a contempt case against JioStar, alleging continued use of copyrighted content.
- The Delhi High Court has ordered JioStar to stop using Zee’s licensed works.
- The dispute highlights increasing competition over content rights in India’s media market.
Zee Entertainment has escalated its legal battle against JioStar by filing a contempt case in the Delhi High Court, alleging that the joint venture continued to use copyrighted content despite a court injunction.
The legal filing, dated September 21, comes after the court had previously ordered JioStar not to use, publish, broadcast, stream, or upload any of Zee’s licensed works. This order was issued in May following a lawsuit filed by Zee seeking $3 million in damages for 50 alleged copyright violations.
In its latest filing, Zee cited six instances between May and July where JioStar allegedly continued to use its copyrighted works, stating that the company is 'illegally and actively exploiting' the content.
JioStar, formed from the $8.5 billion merger of Reliance and Disney’s Indian media assets in 2024, declined to comment on the latest legal action. In May, JioStar’s lawyers had told the court that the alleged infringements were 'unintentional' and 'purely residual in nature'.
The case is part of a broader competition over content rights in India’s streaming and broadcasting market. JioStar, backed by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, is India’s largest media and entertainment company, while Zee, one of India’s oldest broadcasters, is a smaller rival.
In a previous legal battle, JioStar had also launched a case against Zee, alleging the unauthorised broadcast of popular Bollywood movies at a time when JioStar held the rights to the content.
The Delhi High Court has asked JioStar for a response to Zee’s latest allegations, and the case will be heard next in December.
The dispute highlights the growing tension in the Indian media landscape as companies compete for exclusive content rights and market share.
