Reliance-Disney Launch Legal B
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s JioStar is the No. 1 player in India’s vibrant $30 billion media and entertainment industry, while Zee, one of India’s oldest media groups, is a smaller rival. They are already stuck in a $1 billion arbitration in London over the collapsed cricket licensing deal due in 2024.
In April, Zee sued JioStar in a Delhi court for unauthorized use of its copyrighted music. In an apparent tit-for-tat move, JioStar filed a case with a legal arbitration committee on May 4 challenging Zee’s telecast of some Bollywood movies last year, even though the rights to them were held by the Reliance-led entity at the time, according to legal documents reviewed by Reuters.
JioStar alleges that Zee telecasted 12 different movies around 20 times, including some blockbusters starring popular Bollywood film actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan.
JioStar, in its 120-page petition, said Zee is “a habitual infringer”, accusing Zee of “engaging in unauthorized telecast and exploitation of films”.
The filing has not been previously reported.
The petition was filed in the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee, which provides a dispute resolution mechanism aimed at amicable resolution. If this is unresolved, JioStar may take the matter to court.
The documents said the committee has asked Zee to appear before it on May 25, adding that failure to do so will amount to a refusal to participate in the arbitration.
JioStar is set to be formed by an $8.5 billion merger of Reliance and Disney’s Indian media assets in 2024, and Zee both declined to comment.
Big players, many legal notices
Jiostar and Zee reach millions of viewers through multiple TV channels and streaming platforms each.
Reliance says Jiostar has 34.2% share of India’s TV market, while Zee says its share is at a four-year high of 18%.
In the music case filed in April, Zee is reportedly demanding $3 million from JioStar for using its music at least 50 times after certain licensing agreements expire.
Two sources with direct knowledge said JioStar could demand more than Rs 250 million ($2.61 million) for alleged infringement of rights to Bollywood films, though a number has not been finalized yet.
The Bollywood film case reached the court committee stage after both sides exchanged more than a dozen legal notices and letters starting in February 2025, documents show.
The films included include huge hits like 1975’s Deewaar (Deewar) and Tridev (Trinity) starring Amitabh Bachchan.
Jio said it owned the rights to these films and Zee allegedly aired them without permission.
Zee said the broadcasts were “unintentional and unintentional” and that it would take appropriate precautions, but denied any liability for the damages Reliance was seeking.
JioStar has also accused Zee of unauthorized telecast of Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal (Wrestling Bout). The 2016 film based on the real-life Indian wrestler was a big hit in Bollywood and won several awards.
Zee denied any wrongdoing and argued that it had received permission from the production house to air the film.
