The Delhi High Court has moved to shut down a network of fantasy gaming apps accused of impersonating the popular platform Dream11, ordering the blocking of websites linked to the controversial “Come Sports” applications.
The order came during proceedings in a dispute filed by Sporta Technologies, the company behind Dream11. The platform alleged that a group of operators had launched look-alike real-money gaming apps that borrowed heavily from Dream11’s identity — from its trademarks to its app design and even promotional visuals.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Jyoti Singh observed that a straightforward comparison of the two platforms revealed striking similarities. According to the court, the operators of the “Come” and “Come Sports” apps appeared to be riding on Dream11’s reputation by reproducing its trademarks and copyrighted content. Such imitation, the court said, could easily mislead users into believing that the rival apps were connected with or endorsed by Dream11.
Dream11’s operator told the court that its fantasy sports platform, launched in 2012, allows users to build virtual teams made up of real-life players and compete based on live match performances. Over the years, the service has grown into one of the country’s largest digital sports entertainment platforms, with hundreds of millions of users and downloads.
The company also highlighted its trademark portfolio, which includes names such as “Dream11” and “Dream Sports,” and pointed to collaborations with major sporting organisations including the International Cricket Council, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the Indian Premier League, La Liga and the National Basketball Association.
The dispute surfaced after the company began noticing advertisements circulating online in late 2025 promoting gaming apps under names like “Come,” “Come Sports,” and “Come x Dream11.” These promotions reportedly appeared widely across social media platforms.
User complaints soon followed. Several individuals reported encountering the apps and raised concerns about their authenticity. An internal probe by Dream11 uncovered that the operators were distributing the applications through downloadable APK files rather than official app stores, allowing them to bypass standard platform scrutiny.
Investigators also identified more than twenty domain names allegedly tied to the scheme, including variations that directly combined the “Dream11” name with the “Come” branding.
The court noted that the operators had not only used Dream11’s trademarks but also incorporated clips from earlier Dream11 advertisements to create the illusion that the apps were a relaunch or alternate version of the official platform.
Taking a strict view, the court barred the defendants and anyone acting for them from using Dream11 or Dream Sports trademarks — or any deceptively similar names — in domain names, mobile apps, websites, or advertisements. They were also restrained from copying the look and feel of Dream11’s mobile interface or using its promotional content.
In addition, directions were issued to the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to alert internet service providers and block access to the websites hosting the alleged infringing apps.
The company has also been allowed to inform online intermediaries, including domain registrars and social media platforms such as Google and Meta Platforms, if more rogue websites emerge using its branding.
The interim order effectively pulls the plug — at least for now — on a network of apps that the court said appeared designed to cash in on Dream11’s popularity while confusing unsuspecting users.
