The long-anticipated merger of two major OTT platforms, JioCinema and Hotstar, is facing an unexpected hurdle. Reliance Industries, which owns Jio, has been working on this merger since December 2023, a move that could significantly change the OTT landscape in India.

As discussions progressed, Jio aimed to secure the domain name JioHotstar.com. However, they discovered it was already purchased by an anonymous app developer from Delhi, who goes by the name ‘a Dreamer.’ He bought the domain in 2023 after seeing reports of a possible merger and thought it could help fund his education at Cambridge University.

In a letter posted on the domain's website, the developer asked Reliance to reach out to him regarding the purchase of the domain, suggesting a price of £93,345 (approximately ?1 crore). A senior executive from Reliance, Mr. Ambujesh Yadav, did contact him, but they could not agree on a price, leading Reliance to consider legal action.

The anonymous developer claims he has done nothing illegal since he registered the domain before JioHotstar existed. He insists that this was a lucky investment based on speculation, and he feels that Reliance should reconsider his request for funding.

In recent updates, the developer has faced backlash and attempts to compromise his email account, with some individuals trying to blackmail him over his identity. He remains hopeful and argues that a large company like Reliance could easily afford to buy the domain rather than pursue legal action.

This situation raises questions about Reliance's strategy, as many wonder why they did not secure the domain sooner, especially given their significant spending on other ventures. The outcome of this dispute could influence the future of the merger and the OTT market in India. 

For ongoing updates, stay tuned to ISH News. What do you think? Who is right in this dispute: the anonymous developer or Reliance Industries? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Tags

• jio hotstar
• domain
• delhi

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