Gulam Abbas Muni of online betting app FairPlay was arrested by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell on December 12, 2023, for illegally streaming the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League.
Streaming rights holder for the tournament Viacom18 had filed a suit against FairPlay regarding the same earlier this year.
Anil Lale, General Counsel, Viacom18 Media, said, “The unlawful streaming made it imperative for us to intervene promptly. After almost a whole year of persistence we now have one of the perpetrators behind bars. In such cases prompt action is of utmost importance. The damage caused was not just financial but also to our reputation. At Viacom18, we consistently strive to stay ahead of infringers/pirates through proactive legal measures and will continue to do so.”
Online betting platform ‘FairPlay’ is said to have advertised across print, digital media, and hoardings in Mumbai and other major cities illicitly associating itself with the IPL, using taglines like ‘Watch IPL for Free, LIVE’. Subsequently, it was revealed that IPL 2023 was being unlawfully streamed on the FairPlay platform, informed a Viacom18 statement.
Having secured the digital rights for IPL from BCCI for a period of five years, Viacom18 sought a pre-infringement injunction. By an order dated December 21, 2022 passed by the Madras High Court, more than 4,750 specified websites, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), unknown parties were restrained from streaming/hosting/downloading/exhibiting/transmitting or making available content that violates Viacom18’s rights in the IPL.
On April 19, 2023, the Madras High Court granted an Injunction against FairPlay, thereby restraining the unauthorised digital streaming/hosting/downloading/exhibiting/transmitting of the IPL 2023 on the FairPlay website, including any advertisements.
Given FairPlay’s infringement of Viacom18’s rights, Viacom18 filed a suit before the Madras High Court and filed an application for Interim Injunction against FairPlay.
Viacom18 had also filed a criminal complaint before the Maharashtra Cyber Digital Crime Unit (MCDCU) against FairPlay and its owners and distributors, namely Muni, Penny and Joe, for copyright infringement, criminal conspiracy, and cheating, among other offenses.
