- JioStar filed a criminal complaint against ExpressVPN in India
- The complaint claims that the VPN actively markets the ability to bypass blocks.
- JioStar Alleges ExpressVPN Is an “Inducer” of Copyright Infringement
India’s largest streaming and entertainment company JioStar has reportedly filed a criminal complaint against ExpressVPN, marking a significant escalation in the battle between rights holders and privacy tools in India.
According to a report by Storyboard18, the complaint was lodged at the Noida cybercrime police station. It alleges that ExpressVPN engaged in marketing practices that effectively encourage copyright infringement by encouraging users to circumvent geographic restrictions.
The complaint reportedly targets specific language used in ExpressVPN’s advertising. While VPNs are often defended as privacy-preserving utilities, JioStar claims that ExpressVPN’s promotion of “unblocking” capabilities crosses a legal line.
“This is not a case of misuse of a neutral tool,” the complaint asserts, alleging that the provider assumed the role of “knowledgeable facilitator and inducer” of circumvention of geographic restrictions.
JioStar, which owns the exclusive digital and broadcast rights to premium sporting events like the IPL, claims that by explicitly marketing the ability to virtually change locations to access content “for free” or from unauthorized regions, the VPN provider is complicit in the resulting piracy.
TechRadar has contacted ExpressVPN for comment on the allegations and will update this story when we receive a response.
The distinction between a “neutral tool” and an “enabler” is at the heart of modern copyright law. Typically, technology providers say they can’t be held responsible for how customers use their software, just as a VCR maker isn’t responsible for a user’s piracy of a movie.
However, JioStar’s complaint appears to challenge this defense by focusing on inducement. By allegedly advertising features specifically designed to thwart geo-blocking measures used by streaming services, the complaint suggests that ExpressVPN is depriving itself of “neutral intermediary” status.
This development is particularly notable in India, a market that has become increasingly hostile to VPN providers. In 2022, the Indian government’s CERT-In guidelines forced many providers, including ExpressVPN, to remove physical servers in the country to avoid mandatory data logging.
Now, providers face legal challenges not only regarding data retention, but also regarding their core value proposition to streaming audiences.
A global crackdown on “unblocking”
This case in India is not an isolated incident; This is a growing global trend where rights holders are moving beyond targeting “rogue” pirate sites and instead targeting the infrastructure that allows access to them.
In Europe, pressure is mounting. The MPA insists that VPNs play a role in combating piracy in Europe, arguing that services need to do more to verify that their users are not engaging in copyright theft.
Likewise, sports leagues are taking aggressive steps. La Liga just obtained a court order requiring NordVPN and Proton VPN to block illegal soccer streams in Spain – a move the VPN companies have criticized for being technically infeasible and an excessive invasion of privacy.
Additionally, a French court has already issued three blocking orders against popular VPN services, including ExpressVPN. Another sign that courts are increasingly willing to put the burden of content control on VPN providers themselves.
JioStar’s criminal complaint suggests that India is now joining this global front, using criminal law rather than simple civil injunctions to pressure VPN services into compliance. If successful, it could force a major shift in the way VPN providers, which often top our lists of the best VPN services, market their abilities to unblock global content.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Access a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protect your online security and strengthen your online privacy abroad. We do not support or approve the use of a VPN service to break the law or conduct illegal activities. Consumption of paid pirated content is not endorsed or endorsed by Future Publishing.
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