Delhi HC Bars Gambling Sites BaaziAdda, Baazi247 from Using Infringing Domains

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The Delhi High Court has issued an ex-parte ad interim injunction against multiple unidentified gambling websites that were found to be operating in India under domain names and branding that infringe on Baazi Group’s trademarks. The Court noted that these platforms were engaged in cybersquatting and using SEO techniques to redirect user traffic while offering gambling and betting services.

As reported by BW Legal World, Baazi Group, represented by Senior Advocate Raj Shekhar Rao along with Subhash Bhutoria, Anuja Negi, and Ayesha Khan of LAW SB, submitted that these gambling websites had no physical presence in India but were actively targeting Indian users. The Court took into account advisories from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, which prohibit the promotion and endorsement of online gambling and betting platforms in India.

Court Cracks Down on Cybersquatting and Trademark Infringement

Observing the potential impact on Baazi Group and the violation of Indian laws, the Court restrained the operators of these websites from accessing, using, modifying, or transferring their infringing domain names. Additionally, the Court directed Domain Name Registrars (DNRs) such as GoDaddy and Namecheap to suspend access to these domain names and disclose the details of their registrants. The directive aims to address the unauthorized use of Baazi’s branding and prevent the continued operation of these gambling platforms.

The Court also considered the Central Consumer Protection Authority’s (CCPA) advisory dated March 6, 2024, which highlighted the illegality of offshore online gambling platforms and cautioned against celebrity and influencer endorsements of such activities. The advisory emphasized that any advertisement or promotion of prohibited gambling activities would be reviewed under Indian law.

Furthermore, the Court referenced Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which outlines intermediary liability. It noted that exemptions provided to intermediaries would not apply if, upon receiving notification of unlawful activities, they fail to act in a timely manner to remove or disable access to the infringing material.

As per the Court’s order, Domain Name Registrars must provide the details of the registrants of the infringing domain names to Baazi Group within one week. The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on July 28, 2025.

This ruling reflects the judiciary’s position on intellectual property rights and the enforcement of regulations against unauthorized gambling platforms operating within India’s jurisdiction.

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