For films, speed of enforcement can be as important as injunction, says lawyer
13 November 2026
When it comes to films and copyright infringement, the speed of enforcement can be as important as the injunction itself, said Vaishali R. Mittal, a senior partner at Anand and Anand in Noida.
Mittal was particularly referring to the Indian film Ramayana: Rise of a Legend which opened in theatres on November 5, 2026.
On November 2, 2026, the Bombay High Court granted a dynamic ad-interim injunction to protect the movie after Godpower Media Private Limited, which owns the copyright and exploitation rights, filed a suit to protect the film from copyright infringement, unauthorized streaming, recording, hosting and distribution prior to its theatrical release.
Mittal’s firm, Anand and Anand, secured the injunction through its Mumbai joint venture, Anand and Naik.
“A rights holder should not have to wait for a threatened injury to become an accomplished fact,” said Mittal. “Where there is concrete evidence of impending piracy, preventive relief can protect the crucial release window.”
The suit was filed after trailers of Ramayana: Rise of a Legend were recorded covertly by unidentified individuals during preview screenings and circulated online.
“The protection need not await theatrical release or widespread circulation of a pirated copy. The proceedings addressed both alleged infringement that had already occurred and a credible threat of further piracy. The Court considered the trailer leaks and evidence of online pages purporting to offer the film, and found a prima facie, well-founded apprehension of infringement,” Mittal emphasized.
The protection afforded by the injunction extends beyond the film itself as it expressly covers infringing use of portions of Ramayana: Rise of a Legend. These include footage, scenes, songs, trailers, teasers and stills, whether released or unreleased.
On November 6, 2026, a day after the movie began screening in moviehouses, the court also issued an order for internet service providers and digital platforms to act on each booking or takedown notice immediately, and in any event within three hours of receipt.
“The subsequent order strengthens the remedy through time-bound compliance,” said Mittal. “The three-hour deadline recognizes that even a short delay can allow pirated copies to spread widely during the most commercially sensitive period of a release.”
“Taken together, the orders recognize that effective protection against digital piracy requires both anticipation and speed, the ability to intervene before the damage occurs and the ability to respond promptly when infringing material appears,” she added.
- Espie Angelica A. de Leon
