Cause of Action in online copyright cases

In the landmark ruling of Zee Entertainment v. Mohalla Tech (December 2025), the Delhi High Court redefined the digital perimeter for territorial jurisdiction in copyright law. The court held that it had the jurisdiction to hear the case, dismissing Mohalla Tech’s plea that the dispute belonged in Mumbai based on previous licensing agreements. The court ruled that Mohalla Tech ShareChat and Moj platforms offered copyrighted content which could be accessed by users in Delhi, and that would be sufficient to establish ¨carrying on business or working for gain in Delhi¨ and that would suffice under sec. 51 that partof cause of action arose in Delhi.  T

his judgment signals a shift towards a "pro-plaintiff" jurisdictional stance, allowing copyright owners to sue in any forum where their digital content is unauthorizedly accessible, regardless of prior private contracts. 

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