- JioStar has filed a criminal complaint against ExpressVPN in India
- The complaint alleges that the VPN actively markets the ability to bypass blocks
- JioStar claims that 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 Cyber Crime Police Station. ExpressVPN is alleged to have engaged in marketing practices that effectively discourage copyright infringement by encouraging users to circumvent geo-restrictions.
The complaint is reportedly directed at the specific language used in ExpressVPN’s advertising. While VPNs are often defended as privacy-preserving utilities, JioStar claims that ExpressVPN’s promotion of “unsubscribe” features crosses a legal line.
“This is not a case of a neutral tool being misused,” the complaint alleges, alleging that the provider assumed the role of a “knowing facilitator and inducer” of geo-restriction bypass.
JioStar, which has exclusive digital and broadcast rights to premium sporting events like the IPL, claims that by explicitly marketing the ability to virtually change location to access content “for free” or from unauthorized regions, the VPN provider is complicit in the resulting piracy.
TechRadar has reached out to ExpressVPN for comment on the allegations and will update this story when we receive a response.
The distinction between a “neutral tool” and a “facilitator” is central to modern copyright law. Typically, technology providers argue that they cannot be held responsible for how customers use their software, just as a VCR manufacturer is not responsible for a user pirating a movie.
However, JioStar’s complaint appears to challenge this defense by focusing on inducement. By allegedly advertising features specifically designed to counter the geo-blocking measures used by streaming services, the complaint suggests that ExpressVPN is stripping itself of its “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 directives forced many providers, including ExpressVPN, to remove physical servers from the country to avoid mandatory data logging.
Now providers are facing legal challenges not only over data retention, but over their core value proposition to streaming audiences.
A global crackdown on ‘unblocking’
This case in India is not an isolated incident; it represents a growing global trend where rights holders are moving beyond targeting “rogue” pirate sites and instead targeting the infrastructure that provides access to them.
In Europe, the pressure is increasing. The MPA is pushing for VPNs to have a role in the anti-piracy crackdown in Europe, arguing that services should do more to verify that their users are not engaging in copyright theft.
Similarly, sports leagues are taking aggressive action. La Liga has just won a court order requiring NordVPN and Proton VPN to block illegal soccer streams in Spain – a move that VPN companies criticized as technically impossible and a breach of privacy.
Furthermore, a French court has already issued three blocking orders against popular VPN services, including ExpressVPN. Another signal that the courts are increasingly willing to put the burden of policing content on the VPN providers themselves.
JioStar’s criminal complaint suggests that India is now joining this global front, using criminal law rather than just civil injunctions to pressure VPN services to comply. If successful, this could force a major change in how VPN providers, who often top our lists of the best VPN services, market their ability to unblock global content.
We test and review VPN services for legitimate recreational use. For example: 1. Accessing a Service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that Service). 2. Protecting your online security and enhancing your online privacy when you are abroad. We do not support or condone the use of a VPN service to break the law or carry out illegal activities. Consumption of paid-for pirated content is neither endorsed nor endorsed by Future Publishing.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
