The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has ordered Telegram to remove pirated films and Over-the-Top (OTT) content under the Information Technology Act (IT Act), 2000. This action follows complaints from OTT platforms including JioCinema and Amazon Prime Video, and the government’s identification of 3,142 Telegram channels distributing such content, according to government sources quoted by Asian News International (ANI).
MIB Mechanism For Piracy Complaints
In November 2023, the Ministry issued a notification appointing nodal officers within the Ministry and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to process complaints about online piracy of films.
Under the system, copyright holders can submit details of infringing URLs, following which the officers can verify the complaint and direct intermediaries to disable access to the content within a stipulated timeframe. However, an RTI filed by MediaNama later revealed limited use of the mechanism, with officers receiving only 9 complaints as of July 2025, raising questions about its significance and uptake.
Dynamic+ Injunctions And Court Orders
Indian courts began adapting their anti-piracy approach in 2019, when the Delhi High Court introduced dynamic injunctions to tackle the rapid reappearance of piracy websites. Once a court blocks a rogue website hosting pirated films or shows, a dynamic injunction allows the copyright holder to identify mirror, redirect, or proxy domains and request that authorities block them without filing a new lawsuit.
Building on this foundation, the framework expanded significantly in August 2023, when the Delhi High Court introduced the Dynamic+ injunction in cases involving major studios, including Netflix, Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount, and Universal. Unlike earlier orders, a Dynamic+ injunction allows rightsholders to protect both existing and future copyrighted works by giving them the right to request blocking if future IP is also pirated.
Following these developments, courts began applying Dynamic+ orders in several cases involving OTT content and live sports broadcasts. These orders allow rightsholders to notify Internet Service Providers (ISPs), domain name registrars (DNRs), and government authorities to disable newly discovered pirate domains in near real time.
Why This Matters
Telegram has become a major hub for piracy networks, which organise and distribute libraries of pirated films and OTT series through large channels. In 2022, the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) said the platform’s features make it very attractive to piracy networks.
For instance, Telegram allows users to share files up to 2GB, enabling full-length films and TV episodes to circulate easily. Channels can host up to 200,000 members and support user anonymity. This allows pirated content to be distributed to large audiences almost instantly
Telegram, a private company, has limited content moderation. This makes enforcement harder than on traditional social media services. The government’s notice increases scrutiny and pressure on Telegram to moderate piracy on its channels.
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