YouTube Bound to Not Host Videos Which Violate Law, Says Delhi HC

Tata Sky had objected to videos on how to crack the encryption of its set top boxes on YouTube. (Photo: iStockphoto)

The video-sharing website YouTube is obliged to not host any content which violates the laws in Indian, according to Delhi High Court.

The court was ruling on a plea by Tata Sky which sought removal of videos on how to crack the encryption of set top boxes of the company on YouTube.

In terms of Rule 3(1)(e) of the Information Technology Intermediaries Guidelines, YouTube is obliged not to host content that violates any law for the time being in force.

Justice S Muralidhar

The court also said that in cases where YouTube would be required to act immediately, it should not insist upon the complainant to demonstrate that the complaint falls in the categories identified by it for taking action.

Earlier on 27 August, the Delhi High Court has passed an interim order which directed YouTube to remove the hacking videos. YouTube had submitted that it had removed the URLs of the videos. When filing the complaint, Tata Sky had demanded that YouTube act promptly, to which the video-sharing website responded that it would have been in a better position to respond faster had Tata Sky’s complaint been less vague.

Since YouTube had removed the offending URLs and also submitted that in future it will act immediately when it receives such complaints, the court disposed of Tata Sky’s plea.

(Sources: NDTV.com, PTI)