A techie from Delhi registered "jiohotstar․com" in 2023, anticipating the Jio-Hotstar deal, and posted a notice on the website seeking "educational funding" in exchange for the domain.

As per recent developments, Reliance has declined the funding request and opted for legal recourse. Here's why this domain registration isn't merely unethical - it carries serious legal consequences. 


This is a case of cybersquatting - registering domain names of known brands/trademarks with the intent to profit. The domain clearly combines two registered trademarks - "Jio" and "Hotstar". Under Section 29 of the Trade Marks Act, using registered trademarks without authorization is an infringement, carrying penalties of up to ₹2 lakhs.

The IT Act Section 66D addresses cheating by personation using computer resources. By creating a domain that suggests an official association with Jio/Hotstar, the registrant could face imprisonment up to 3 years and fines of up to ₹1 lakh.  The "educational funding" request could be seen as an attempt at extortion.

What makes this case particularly interesting is the admission of registering the domain "in anticipation" of the deal. That's like leaving a signed confession at the scene. While the IT Act might not specifically mention cybersquatting, trademark laws and judicial precedents have it well covered.

Let's see the legal remedies available to the company. 

- Cease and Desist Notice. -Domain Name Dispute Resolution under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) and administration by the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center.
-Then there's ICANN's Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP). The international mechanism helps trademark owners recover domains registered in bad faith.-Court Litigation and claim damages for trademark infringement.