Asia: Media, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment

This July 2026 edition of Game, Set & Match Monthly delivers comprehensive coverage of the latest legal, regulatory, and industry developments shaping sports and gaming in India and globally. From online gaming regulations and emerging technology impacts to sports law battles and international policy shifts, this newsletter provides strategic insights into the biggest stories transforming these dynamic industries.

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 enters its final stages, with the third-place play-off and the final between defending champions Argentina and Spain expected to attract millions of viewers worldwide, the focus is no longer confined to the action on the pitch. Even before the tournament commenced, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., had secured the exclusive media rights for India, by approaching the Delhi High Court seeking protection against rogue websites and digital platforms expected to illegally stream the tournament. The proceedings demonstrate that acquiring exclusive broadcasting rights is only the first step, with effective protection against digital piracy being equally essential.

Japanese police have arrested an alleged first uploader on Nyaa, the torrent index at the heart of anime piracy, marking a strategic shift from blocking sites to targeting source distributors. Using attribution tools developed under CODA's Cross-Border Enforcement Project, investigators identified and detained a Kanagawa resident suspected of seeding an NHK drama and numerous other works. This case signals a new enforcement approach focused on chokepoints in the distribution chain rather than endless domain

Serious misconduct is often spoken about as though it were fixed and well understood. In practice, it is anything but static. While conduct such as theft, fraud and sexual harassment remain clear examples, case law shows an expanding and more nuanced approach to what may justify summary dismissal.

India's securities regulator has proposed a unified advertisement framework that would replace fragmented approval requirements with standardised post-issuance reporting for financial intermediaries. The consultation paper introduces common principles for risk disclosure, performance presentation and promotional claims across multiple categories of regulated entities. How will this shift from prior approval to retrospective supervision affect compliance practices in India's securities market?

Trademark applications are increasingly facing rejection for lacking distinctiveness as businesses favor SEO-friendly, descriptive names that fail legal scrutiny. This analysis examines why marks like "QuickDocs" or "SmartPay" struggle to secure registration, explores the legal framework governing distinctiveness under Section 9 of India's Trade Marks Act, and reveals how startups can build legally protectable brands without sacrificing market appeal.

The Supreme Court has drawn a clear and decisive line on a question that has repeatedly troubled Section 9 litigation: when does arbitration truly begin? In a firm reaffirmation of statutory principle, the Court in Regenta Hotels Pvt. Ltd. Vs. M/s Hotel Grand Centre Point & Ors. (2026 INSC 32) held that arbitral proceedings commence upon the Respondent’s receipt of a notice invoking arbitration under Section 21 of the Act.

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“You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” 1 The Eagles’ celebrated lyrics from the song Hotel California captures, with uncanny precision, the dilemma confronting professional athletes who wish to compete at the highest level of organised sports. The mandatory arbitration clause, often hidden in entry forms and federation regulations, presents athletes with a proverbial Hobson’s choice: accept the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (‘CAS’), or sacrifice a professional career altogether.

On 31 October 2025, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that an exclusive management contract between K-pop girl group NewJeans and its agency, ADOR, remained valid until June 2029.

Sound recording law is a combination of copyright, contract, privacy and new technology regulation. The law on sound recordings has undergone a major change due to the evolving music market and technological developments that have accelerated over the years. This article discusses the legal framework of IP rights in sound recordings as provided by the Copyright Act, 1957 with a special focus on ownership, assignment, licensing, and commercial exploitation of IP rights in sound recordings.

The Advent of Artificial intelligence (“AI”) has taken its shape and form in nearly all the sectors, contributing either directly or indirectly to the Indian economy. It has now moved from a topic of revolution to an issue for discussion and more so a reason for restructuring the existing legal regimes. One such sector where AI has settled itself is that of music industry or broadly putting it, the creative industry, amid the growing characterization of the Indian economy as an ‘orange economy,’ driven by creativity, culture, and intellectual property.