Recording industry successful in first ever stream ripping blocking case in India

19 January 2023 - Press release

IFPI, the organisation that represents the recorded music industry worldwide, alongside IMI, representing music labels in India, have together coordinated the first successful blocking action targeting stream ripping sites in India.

The ruling, which was published by the Delhi High Court today, requires ISPs in India to block access to 20 stream ripping sites, disrupting one of the most prominent forms of music piracy in the country. The case was coordinated by IFPI and IMI on behalf of their member record companies: Sony Music India, Universal Music India, Warner Music India.

While Indian consumers today have access to more licensed digital services than ever before, a study carried out by IFPI last year found that India still has a very high rate of music piracy with almost three-quarters of internet users (73%) using unlicensed or illegal ways to listen to music in the country, a rate more than twice as high as the global average of 30%. The 20 sites blocked as part of this action collectively received nearly half a billion visits last year from users based in India.

The decision in India follows a series of positive cases against stream ripping websites taken by the recording industry around the world over the last few years. Courts and authorities in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Ecuador, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Peru, Russia and Spain have all handed down decisions requiring ISPs to block their customers’ access to stream ripping websites.

Frances Moore, Chief Executive of IFPI, said: “We welcome this decision and the strong message it sends to operators of stream ripping sites, wherever they may be based, that we are prepared to take the appropriate action against them. These services make large amounts of money from music whilst paying nothing to those domestic and international artists that are creating it and the labels that are investing in the music of tomorrow.”

Blaise Fernandes, President & CEO, IMI, added: “We welcome the Delhi High Court's decision which will further strengthen the recorded music industry’s fight against digital music piracy. Given that it’s the first time a website blocking order has been granted against stream ripping websites, this precedent is an important step in the right direction for the Indian recorded music industry.”