An Indian entertainment company has filed a major lawsuit against the country’s largest media conglomerate, claiming millions in damages over alleged music copyright violations.
Zee Entertainment launched legal action against JioStar, the joint venture created from Disney and Reliance’s $8.5 billion merger, demanding $3 million for what it calls unauthorized use of its copyrighted music catalog.
According to court documents filed in New Delhi on April 14, Zee claims the Disney-Reliance partnership used its music at least 50 times after licensing deals expired in 2024 and 2025. The companies failed to renew these agreements due to disputes over payment terms.
“The illegal exploitation thereof amounted to copyright infringement,” Zee stated in its 1,800-page court filing, requesting the court order an immediate halt to any ongoing violations of its music rights.
The lawsuit represents the latest battle between Zee and the entertainment giant led by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries. The two companies are already engaged in separate arbitration proceedings in London, where Reliance is pursuing $1 billion in damages from Zee for allegedly abandoning a cricket broadcasting agreement in 2024.
Both Zee and JioStar representatives declined to provide statements regarding the music copyright case.
JioStar operates an extensive entertainment empire, controlling thousands of television programs and broadcasting rights for major sporting events across multiple TV networks and its JioHotstar streaming service, which serves approximately 500 million monthly users throughout India.
Zee, established as one of India’s pioneering media companies, operates numerous television channels and its own streaming platform while maintaining ownership of more than 19,450 songs across 17 different languages.
During a brief court session on Tuesday, the presiding judge instructed JioStar to prevent any continued infringement of Zee’s musical works on its platforms and ordered compliance within 15 days, according to a source familiar with the proceedings. The case is scheduled to resume on July 23.
This legal action forms part of Zee’s broader campaign to protect its music library from unauthorized usage. The company recently filed a separate lawsuit against beauty and fashion retailer Nykaa, alleging the company used Zee’s copyrighted songs in Instagram promotional videos and seeking $210,000 in compensation.
Court records reveal that Zee claims its music was improperly used in various music and dance programs broadcast on JioStar’s television networks and streaming platform.
Documentation shows both companies have engaged in months of negotiations, exchanging multiple letters and legal warnings regarding the disputed music usage.
In December, JioStar informed Zee it had “taken extensive steps to remove any infringing content across its portfolio,” including older programming content.
However, JioStar argued that maintaining archived content in passive storage did not constitute infringement or illegal distribution, a stance that Zee strongly contests.
In a March 16 correspondence, JioStar “categorically rejects” what it termed “coercive demands” for financial damages, while expressing willingness to pursue “an amicable and commercially sensible solution.”
