Zee Entertainment Sues Reliance-Disney Venture Over Music Copyright Dispute
According to court documents reviewed by Reuters, Zee is seeking nearly $3 million in damages
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Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. has filed a lawsuit against JioStar, the Reliance-Disney joint venture, alleging unauthorised use of its copyrighted music catalogue after licensing agreements between the companies expired.
According to court documents reviewed by Reuters, Zee is seeking nearly $3 million in damages, claiming that content from its music division continued to be used across JioStar’s streaming platform and television channels without valid licensing agreements.
The lawsuit, filed in a New Delhi court on April 14, marks the latest legal dispute between Zee and the Reliance-Disney entity formed through the $8.5 billion merger of Reliance and Disney’s India media businesses in 2024.
In its 1,800-page filing, Zee alleged that its music was used at least 50 times after certain agreements expired in 2024 and 2025 and were not renewed due to disagreements over commercial terms. The company argued that the continued use constituted copyright infringement and sought directions to stop any ongoing usage of its works.
JioStar, which operates television networks and the streaming platform JioHotstar, reportedly rejected Zee’s demand for damages. In previous correspondence cited in court papers, JioStar said it had taken steps to remove infringing content, including legacy programming, while maintaining that residual archival hosting did not amount to unlawful communication or infringement.
The matter came up briefly before the court earlier this week, where the judge reportedly directed JioStar to ensure there is no ongoing infringement while the case is being heard. The next hearing has been scheduled for July 23.
The dispute adds to ongoing legal tensions between the two media groups. Zee and Reliance are already engaged in arbitration proceedings in London over a collapsed cricket rights agreement, with Reliance reportedly seeking $1 billion in damages.
The latest lawsuit also comes amid Zee’s wider crackdown on alleged unauthorised use of its music catalogue across digital and commercial platforms.