New Delhi: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd has filed a lawsuit against JioStar, the Reliance-Disney joint venture, alleging unauthorised use of copyrighted music after licensing agreements between the companies expired.
According to reports, the case was filed in a New Delhi court on April 14, with Zee accusing JioStar of continuing to use songs from its catalogue across television channels and the streaming platform JioHotstar despite the lapse of licensing arrangements.
Zee alleges repeated copyright violations
Court documents reportedly state that Zee identified at least 50 instances where its music catalogue was allegedly used after agreements expired during 2024 and 2025.
The entertainment company has claimed that the content was featured in music and dance-based programmes broadcast on JioStar’s television network and digital streaming services.
In its filing, Zee reportedly described the continued use of the songs as “illegal exploitation” amounting to copyright infringement.
Rs 25 crore damages sought
Zee is seeking damages of nearly $3 million, equivalent to around ₹25 crore, along with a court order restraining JioStar from further use of the disputed content.
The company has asserted that it owns a catalogue of more than 19,450 songs across 17 languages, making it one of India’s major music rights holders.
The dispute reportedly emerged after the two sides failed to renew licensing agreements due to disagreements over commercial terms.
Legal battle adds to Reliance-Zee tensions
The copyright case comes amid broader legal tensions between the two corporate groups. Zee and Reliance are already involved in arbitration proceedings in London linked to a cricket broadcasting agreement that collapsed in 2024.
Reliance is reportedly seeking $1 billion in damages from Zee over the terminated cricket rights arrangement.
The latest lawsuit further intensifies the ongoing corporate and legal friction between the companies.
JioStar’s growing media footprint
JioStar, formed through the merger of Reliance and Disney’s Indian media operations, controls a vast entertainment and sports broadcasting network. The company owns television channels, streaming platforms, and rights to several major sporting events.
Its streaming platform JioHotstar has emerged as a major player in India’s digital entertainment space following the integration of sports and entertainment content libraries.
Copyright disputes in entertainment sector
Industry experts note that copyright and licensing disputes have become increasingly common in India’s rapidly expanding streaming and broadcast ecosystem.
As media companies compete aggressively for audience attention, music and content rights have gained significant commercial value, leading to more legal scrutiny over licensing arrangements.
Conclusion
The Zee-JioStar copyright dispute is likely to become a closely watched legal battle in India’s entertainment industry. The outcome could have wider implications for content licensing practices, digital streaming rights, and media partnerships across the sector.
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