Who thought that the Hotstar and Jio merger would take such an interesting turn? This is all about the domain saga. A few days back, a Delhi-based app developer claimed to own the JioHotstar.com domain, which he acquired in 2023 with the hope of a merger between JioCinena and Disney+ Hotstar one day. However, soon he decided to peacefully hand over the domain to Reliance Industries without any legal proceedings. He then approached Reliance, asking for over ₹1 crore in exchange for the domain, which he said would help fund an executive MBA at Cambridge University in the UK. However, Reliance reportedly refused the proposal and reported to be taking legal action against him over a potential trademark violation.
Now, the dispute over the domain JioHotstar.com has taken an unexpected path as two young siblings from Dubai, Jainam and Jivika, have stepped forward claiming they bought the domain from this developer!
What Happened?
Recently, the JioHotstar.com domain featured an update introducing Jainam and Jivika, two siblings from Dubai who are now listed as the new owners. Jainam, aged 13, and his younger sister Jivika, 10, explained on the website that they purchased the domain to support the Delhi developer who first registered it. They shared in a YouTube video that their goal was to help him while also promoting a positive message through their own activities.
In a letter on the domain, Jainam and Jivika shared the story of their summer trip to India, where they spent time connecting with children from different backgrounds. During their travels, they taught children about studying, setting goals, and the importance of dreaming big. They documented their journey with photos, videos, and stories, now available on their website jainamjivikafuntime.com.
Helping the Developer
The siblings also mentioned that they used part of the donations they received during their India trip to buy the JioHotstar domain from the developer. Their intent is to hold the domain open for future opportunities while continuing to share their experiences and values online.
However, it must be noted that as of now, Reliance Industries has not released a statement about the siblings’ new ownership of the domain. Will Reliance Industries acquire the domain from the Dubai siblings, or they will get a whole new domain with a different name? We will have to wait for the official details!