₹4,000-crore 'Ramayana' gets legal shield against online piracy ahead of global release

The Bombay High Court has granted a dynamic ad-interim injunction to protect the upcoming film Ramayana from copyright infringement, restraining unidentified individuals and digital platforms from unauthorisedly recording, uploading, hosting or streaming the film ahead of its scheduled global theatrical release on November 5, according to Bar and Bench.

The interim order was passed on Monday, November 2, by Justice Madhav Jamdar in the case of Godpower Media Private Limited v. John Does & Ors. The suit was filed by Godpower Media Private Limited, a Mumbai-based entity that claims to hold the domestic and territorial intellectual property rights for the film.

The court’s intervention comes amid concerns over potential leaks and the unauthorised circulation of copyrighted material online. The injunction aims to prevent piracy by enabling the swift removal of infringing content, including links and mirror websites that may emerge across digital platforms.

READ THIS: 'Ramayana' advance booking: With 2 days to go, Ranbir Kapoor-led epic tops ₹70 crore in India ticket sales

Bombay High Court flags risk of online piracy

During the proceedings, Godpower Media told the court that it had a genuine apprehension that the film, or portions of it, could be illegally recorded and distributed online. The company also highlighted alleged leaks involving the film’s trailers, which were reportedly recorded and circulated despite strict non-disclosure obligations imposed during invite-only preview screenings.

Justice Madhav Jamdar acknowledged the concerns raised by the plaintiff, observing, “Prima facie, the plaintiff (Godpower) has real and well-founded apprehension that the film or parts of it will be recorded and uploaded, streamed, or communicated to the public on various platforms.”

The court’s observation underscores the potential risk of unauthorised distribution, particularly in the period immediately preceding a major theatrical release.

What does the dynamic injunction mean?

The dynamic injunction allows the plaintiff to seek action against infringing content as and when it appears online, without necessarily having to initiate separate proceedings for every new link or mirror website covered by the order.

The court has directed internet service providers (ISPs) and social media intermediaries to block, disable access to, or take down offending URLs upon receiving written notice from Godpower Media.

ALSO READ: Who wrote the 'Ramayana'? Exploring the different versions of the ancient epic

The company has been instructed to communicate the URLs carrying infringing material to the relevant platforms and service providers, which must then take prompt action against the identified content.

Counsel representing Google LLC and global social media intermediaries recorded no objection to the order and assured the court that appropriate action would be taken upon notification of offending links.

The injunction covers unidentified ‘John Doe’ entities, allowing the order to address potential infringers whose identities may not be known when the legal action is initiated.