U.S. court slaps Jadoo TV with $24.9 million worth of damages & orders shutdown
A U.S. court has ordered South Asian pirate IPTV service Jadoo TV to pay $24.9 million in damages and cease operations by 22nd December 2024.
The ruling follows a legal battle initiated in November 2018 by Dish Network, which accused Jadoo TV of illegally distributing South Asian content through its set-top boxes and mobile app.
Announced by the International Broadcaster Coalition Against Piracy (IBCAP), the judgment mandates Jadoo TV and its CEO, Sajid Sohail, to pay $24,969,911 in damages. The court also issued a permanent injunction barring Jadoo TV and Sohail from engaging in any future illegal streaming activities. As part of a settlement, Jadoo TV will transfer customer lists, trademarks, and domain names to Dish Network and pay an additional $1.5 million by February 2025.
The damages include $14.55 million for registered works and $10.42 million for unregistered works. This decision marks a significant milestone in combating piracy within the entertainment industry.
Chris Kuelling, Executive Director of IBCAP, stated, “This judgment and settlement mark the end of a six-year battle against one of the most popular South Asian piracy services. The outcome sends a clear message: operating a pirate IPTV service will result in significant monetary penalties and the loss of your business.”
Dish Network filed the lawsuit after repeated copyright infringement notices failed to halt Jadoo TV’s operations. Jadoo set-top boxes were widely available in South Asian communities across North America through retail stores and online platforms.
The case was coordinated by IBCAP, with evidence gathered by its lab, and prosecuted by Dish’s legal team at Hagan Noll & Boyle, LLC.
