Chennai: Five time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings have been named in a copyright infringement case filed by Sun TV Network before the Madras High Court, days ahead of the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League.
The media company alleged that a promotional video released by the franchise to unveil its new jersey used copyrighted audio material from several Tamil films without permission. According to the complaint, the video featured music, dialogues and background elements from movies including Jailer, Jailer 2 and Coolie, all associated with actor Rajinikanth.
The video, shared on social media platforms such as Instagram, X, YouTube and Facebook, was part of the team’s promotional campaign for the 2026 season. The plaintiff claimed that the copyrighted audio was incorporated at multiple points in the clip, including sequences showing the arrival of veteran cricketer MS Dhoni at the team camp.
According to the legal filing, the original video was later removed and uploaded again with certain modifications after the issue was raised. Sun TV Network has sought a court order restraining the franchise from using the disputed material and has also asked for details regarding potential commercial gains linked to jersey sales promoted through the video.
The company argued that the use of Rajinikanth’s film audio could significantly influence merchandise demand, particularly given the team’s strong fan base in Chennai and other parts of southern India.
An email raising the issue was reportedly sent to the franchise on March 1, after which the team stopped using the audio tracks in question. The development has also prompted other IPL teams to review their promotional content practices, as franchises often rely on film music and dialogues for social media campaigns.
Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, are scheduled to begin their IPL 2026 campaign against the Rajasthan Royals on March 30 in Guwahati. The squad also features key players including Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube and Rahul Chahar among others.