In a move that sent a jolt through the underbelly of online music piracy, the Delhi High Court has ordered the shutdown of thirty websites accused of turning streaming platforms into free-for-all download shops. The case, brought forward by Saregama, spotlighted a digital sleight of hand known as “stream ripping”—the art of converting streaming tracks into permanent offline files.
The Court noted that every single instance of this rip-and-run operation was not just a breach, but a direct siphoning of Saregama’s revenue. It underscored how the easy availability of these pirated copies chipped away at the company’s exclusive control over its own music.
With the harm described as “grave” and “irreparable,” the Court didn’t hesitate. An ex-parte ad-interim injunction was issued, placing Saregama firmly on the side of convenience, and the operators of these websites on the receiving end of judicial urgency.
Domain registrars were ordered to lock and suspend the offending sites within a week. They must also hand over subscriber details—names, emails, contact numbers, IP logs—in sealed or password-protected form. Internet service providers were told to block access altogether within seven days.
The matter now moves toward its next chapter, slated for February 27, 2026, where the Court will revisit the case with these first steps already in motion.
