JOHN DOE: Shield became Sword

The necessity to protect individual expression in a timely manner has prompted the judiciary to develop a variety of creative strategies, one of which is the use of John Doe injunctions. As the owners have always been concerned about the speed and scope by which piracy is increasing alarmingly through the internet, especially given the anonymity of IP rights infringers; these injunctions help to stop it. However, presently, its role is changing. Due to John Doe’s shady implementation, they have considerably exceeded their legal scope, with the internet as the principal sufferer. The scope of 'Internet freedom' is left to the whims of these wide restrictions, endangering valid consumer interests and raising major questions about the legitimacy of indefinite crackdowns in the name of combating IP rights piracy. This article will look into the need of John Doe in shielding the creative expression of the owners and its flippantly dangerous use as a sword in curtailing the legitimate work of the internet service providers. The article shows that the laws of the country require certain reforms to guard everyone’s interest/need.