The Delhi High Court ordered Meta Platforms, Inc. to remove specific Facebook posts containing pirated content belonging to Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. on Monday, July 13, 2026. to remove specific Facebook posts containing pirated content belonging to Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL), a prominent broadcaster. Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani issued the directive on Monday, July 13, 2026, granting immediate interim relief to Zee in its fresh copyright infringement suit against the global technology giant.
This judicial intervention comes after Zee alleged that numerous Facebook pages were illegally uploading its television programs and clips, allowing users to watch them without permission. The broadcaster claimed these pirated videos continued to resurface despite repeated takedown requests, arguing that Meta also profited from the high traffic and user engagement generated by this unauthorized content.
Court’s interim directive to Meta Platforms
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani’s order specifically mandates Meta to take down content found in the particular Facebook URLs identified by Zee Entertainment. The court, however, declined to suspend or block the infringing Facebook pages themselves at this initial stage of proceedings.
“For the moment, because it is at the ex parte stage, let’s first take down all this content and we will take it from there,” Justice Bhambhani stated. He added, “The court is not persuaded, at this stage, to direct the blocking of the accounts… [Meta] is directed to take down the content in the URLs set out.”
This nuanced approach means the court is prioritizing the immediate removal of illegal content while reserving judgment on more severe actions like account suspension. Summons have been issued to Meta Platforms and other defendants, requiring them to respond to Zee’s allegations and file written submissions.
The order is what’s known as a “John Doe” order, a legal instrument allowing action against unknown infringers. Zee has been tasked with providing a soft copy of all Facebook links containing allegedly infringing content to Meta for prompt action, further streamlining the takedown process.
Zee’s escalating fight against digital piracy
This lawsuit is part of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.’s broader and increasingly aggressive crackdown on copyright infringement. The company informed the court that it had attempted to resolve these issues with Meta for nearly two years, including through pre-litigation mediation in 2024, but these efforts proved unsuccessful.
Zee has been active on multiple fronts. On May 5, 2026, the Delhi High Court referred a copyright dispute between the Reliance-Disney joint venture, JioStar, and Zee Entertainment to mediation. Zee had previously sought $3 million in damages from JioStar, citing unauthorized use of works from its music division.
The broadcaster also filed a copyright infringement suit against Nykaa’s parent company, FSN E-Commerce Ventures Ltd., on April 3, 2026. This case centered on the alleged unauthorized use of Zee-owned copyrighted songs in Instagram reels for brand promotion, with Zee reportedly seeking Rs. 2 crores (USD 210,626) in damages. Nykaa subsequently removed about 12 flagged links.
Beyond social media platforms, Zee has targeted other piracy avenues. On October 31, 2024, the Delhi High Court issued an ex-parte interim injunction against 60 “rogue websites” that were illicitly streaming Zee’s copyrighted material. This included popular content like “Bastar – The Naxal Story,” “Kakuda,” and “Rautu ka Raaz.”
The company also secured a crucial victory related to major sporting events. On June 3, 2026, Justice Saurabh Banerjee of the Delhi High Court granted a “dynamic injunction” in favor of Zee, directing internet service providers to block access to websites illegally streaming the FIFA World Cup 2026, for which Zee held exclusive broadcasting and digital rights in India.
Broader implications for content platforms
The Delhi High Court’s ruling against Meta underscores the continuing challenges technology platforms face in managing user-generated content and upholding copyright law. While the court stopped short of blocking entire accounts, the obligation to swiftly remove specific URLs places a significant burden on Meta’s content moderation systems.
This decision could set a precedent for how other content owners approach social media giants in India over similar infringement claims. It highlights the growing pressure on platforms to actively police their content, especially when direct appeals and mediation attempts have failed.
It’s worth noting that Meta’s “Rights Manager” system itself has faced scrutiny. The Delhi High Court is currently hearing a separate commercial suit filed by financial educator Pushkar Raj Thakur, who alleges that bad-faith actors weaponized Meta’s system to issue fake copyright strikes against legitimate content creators.
This ongoing legal tug-of-war illustrates the complex interplay between intellectual property rights, user content, and platform responsibility in the digital age. The court’s cautious approach to not block entire accounts, while still enforcing takedowns, signals an attempt to balance protecting creators with not over-penalizing platforms or legitimate users.
The outcome of future hearings will be closely watched, as it could further define the responsibilities of social media companies regarding copyrighted material. For now, the immediate focus remains on Meta’s compliance with the ordered takedowns of Zee Entertainment’s content.