Zee Entertainment Enterprises has initiated legal action against JioStar, the joint venture formed by Reliance Industries and The Walt Disney Company, alleging unauthorized use of its copyrighted music content. The lawsuit, filed in a New Delhi court on April 14, seeks nearly $3 million in damages and an immediate halt to any ongoing violations.
After Nykaa, Zee files Rs 25 crore suit against JioStar; Allegation of unauthorized music use
According to court documents reviewed by Reuters, Zee claimed that its music catalog was used at least 50 times in television programs and streaming content on JioStar’s platforms after the license agreements expire in 2024 and 2025. The company said in its filing that “her illegal exploitation amounts to copyright infringement,” and urged the court to ban further use of her works.
The dispute is part of a broader series of legal disagreements between the two entities following the $8.5 billion merger that brought together the media operations of Reliance and Disney in India. JioStar currently operates a large portfolio of television channels and streaming platform JioHotstar, which reportedly reaches around 500 million monthly users. Zee, one of India’s long-established media networks, maintains a catalog of over 19,000 songs in multiple languages.
During a recent hearing, the court directed JioStar to ensure that no further violations occur while the case is pending and asked the company to comply within 15 days. The next hearing is to be held on July 23.
JioStar has denied the allegations and rejected Zee’s demand for damages. In earlier correspondence cited in court filings, the company had said it had taken “extensive steps to remove any infringing material,” including legacy programming. It also argued that residual archival hosting is not an unlawful use, a claim contested by Zee.
The matter comes at a time when both parties are engaged in arbitration proceedings in London over a separate dispute related to the cricket rights deal, where Reliance is reportedly demanding compensation of $1 billion from Zee.
Industry observers say the lawsuit highlights growing friction over content ownership and licensing as India’s media and streaming landscape continues to consolidate. The outcome of the case could have broad implications for how intellectual property rights are managed across various platforms in the emerging entertainment ecosystem.
