VLC-Developer VideoLAN Sends Legal Notice To Indian Ministries Over Ban

VideoLAN, the developer and operator of popular media player VLC, has filed a legal notice to India's IT and Telecom ministries, alleging that the Indian bodies failed to notify the software developer prior to blocking the website and did not afford it a chance for an explanation. From a report: Indian telecom operators have been blocking VideoLAN's website, where it lists links to downloading VLC, since February of this year, VideoLan president and lead developer Jean-Baptiste Kempf told TechCrunch in an earlier interview. India is one of the largest markets for VLC. 'Most major ISPs [internet service providers] are banning the site, with diverse techniques,' he said of the blocking in India. The telecom operators began blocking the VideoLan website on February 13 of this year, when the site saw a drop of 80% in traffic from the South Asian market, he said. Now, VideoLAN, in assistance with local advocacy group Internet Freedom Foundation, is using legal means to get answers and redressal. It has sought a copy of the blocking order for banning VideoLAN website in India and an opportunity to defend the case through a virtual hearing. In the notice, VideoLAN argues that the way Indian ministries have enforced the ban on the website, they violate their own local laws.

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