A Delhi-based coder is demanding Rs 1 crore for the JioHotstar.com domain, triggering a legal dispute with Reliance Industries.
A Delhi-based app developer has made the internet talk for an unusual reason: occupying the domain. JioHotstar.com priced at over Rs 1 crore for Reliance. The bet arises after a possible merger between Disney+ Hotstar and Viacom18, owned by Trusted Industries. A technology lover who dreams of studying at Cambridge, this developer hopes that his domain will bring him not only riches but also the new name of the streaming platform that will be merged.
In early 2023, the developer spotted a worrying trend for Disney+ Hotstar: reducing daily active users after losing the IPL broadcast JioCinema rights. It gave rise to speculation that Disney could sell or merge its popular streaming platform with an Indian competitor. Seizing the opportunity, the developer connected the dots and started playing its low-key game. Earlier this year, a merger between Star India, owner of Disney+ Hotstar, and Viacom18 was approved; gave rise to his dream that Reliance Jio could buy Hotstar and rename it.
The mobile developer has so far shown great common sense and a dream opportunity. Checked the domain JioHotstar.comwhich was not yet registered under any name. He rushed to acquire the domain in the hope that if Jio bought Hotstar, it would be sold for a considerable profit beyond his Cambridge study fees. In a blog he posted on JioHotstar.com, he mentions his reasoning, citing previous Reliance acquisitions such as Saavn, which they renamed JioSaavn, and hopes that Hotstar can follow the same path.
However, suddenly, the entrepreneurial dream took another direction. Instead of bidding for the domain name, Reliance contacted him regarding a legal dispute related to trademark infringement. The promoter was denied £93,345 (approximately Rs 1 million). He himself announced that Reliance is considering legal action. In response, the developer is now urging Reliance to reconsider its offer, hoping that the latter will see the benefit of leveraging JioHotstar.com for its future merged platform.
The app developer has personal ties to Cambridge; he completed the university’s Accelerated Program in 2021. That experience, he remembers, was transformation itself; It ignited in him the dream of pursuing a full career in entrepreneurship.
Now that a merger between Viacom18 and Disney+ Hotstar appears imminent, the developer has the upper hand over JioHotstar.com. He argues that the domain would serve as a major brand establishment in the new merged entity and would make it easier for people to stop being existing users of any of the platforms that support that domain. Acquiring this domain will be a small sum for Reliance; After all, it is a billion-dollar company. But for him, it will represent a life-changing opportunity.
While waiting for his dream of being able to make some money through his unorthodox domain squatting approach to get enough opportunity to turn his dreams into reality, this dreamer awaits Reliance’s next step.
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