A piece of news is in the headlines recently after Reliance Industries reportedly rejected the demands of an unnamed app developer who claimed to have purchased the domain name Jiohotstar.com in 2023 and demanded ₹1 crore for it. The mentioned developer is now seeking legal assistance while expressing his concerns about potential legal action from Reliance Industries.
The Claim and Rejection
The developer alleged on Jiohotstar.com that Ambujesh Yadav, AVP of Commercials at Reliance, had contacted him regarding the domain name. However, the developer's demand for ₹1 crore to cover his "tuition fees for the EMBA program" was promptly turned down by Reliance. The developer said he is now feeling powerless against the company and seeking legal help, fearing the loss of access to the domain.
Background of the Domain Purchase
The developer explained that he speculated on a potential merger between Disney+ Hotstar and an Indian competitor, possibly Viacom18 (owned by Reliance). This led him to believe that JioHotstar might become a reality, prompting him to secure the domain name. The upcoming merger between RIL's Viacom18 and Walt Disney's Star India fueled his hypothesis.
The domain name JioHotstar had a simple landing page with a message from the said developer that he purchased the domain last year after first hearing about the merger.
According to a report by Hindustan Times, the Delhi-based app developer whose identity has not been revealed shared a message, "When I saw this domain become available, I felt things might just fall into place. My intention of buying this domain was simple: if this merger happens, I might be able to fulfill my dream of studying at Cambridge,"
Merger Details and Value
The merger between Reliance Industries Limited's Viacom18 and Walt Disney's Star India, valued at $8.5 billion, is set to conclude in early November after regulatory approvals in India. This merger will create India's largest media and entertainment conglomerate, with Star India as the operating company post-merger.
Legal Implications and Seeking Assistance
The developer expressed concern about potential legal repercussions from Reliance Industries and sought help from legal professionals. He reasoned to have not infringed on any trademarks when purchasing the domain in 2023, as JioHotstar did not exist at the time. The developer's plea for assistance on the website reflects his apprehension about losing access to the domain.
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