Dubai Siblings Hand Over their Domain to Reliance 'free of cost'

Dubai-based siblings Jainam and Jivika, the owners of Jiohotstar.com domain, have decided to transfer it to Reliance "free of cost", resting speculation on social media. The story of the internet domain name, which grabbed a lot of attention on social media in the recent days, ended with "seva and kindness", said the duo.

The unique website ID was initially registered by a Delhi-based app developer last year amid speculation around the potential merger of Reliance Jio and Disney Hotstar.

Last month, the developer came up with the demand for investing his higher studies at Cambridge University in return for the domain's ownership transfer, days after Reliance Jio and The Walt Disney officially declared the merger of their media businesses.

Further, the siblings purchased jiohotstar.com domain from its registered owner. 

According to credentials, the domain was sold to Dubai-based siblings after Reliance denied his offer.

The siblings now shared an update, saying the Reliance IP Legal team approached them and the duo has decided to pass the ownership to Reliance, hoping that it would be "useful for them".

"The Reliance IP legal team has approached us, and we will be transferring this domain to them, free of cost," they said in a message on the website.

"There have been some rumors online suggesting that there is a payment or deal involved, but we want to make it clear this is not true," said the duo.

Furthermore, the duo in his video also clarified there is "no pressure from anyone" and denied having a "deal of any kind”.

The duo added in the message, "This is purely a transfer of the domain from our side because we believe it could be useful for them. Whether or not they choose to use it is up to them."

PTI reached out to Reliance for its statement on the development but did not get any response.

In their last message, the siblings said they had received numerous offers, including some genuine ones offering significant amounts. However, they had said that the domain was not for sale.

While announcing the duo stated, " the journey with jiohotstar.com is coming to an end, we are waiting for a draft from the Reliance legal team for the transfer of the domain.”

Additionally, they added, "The Reliance IP legal team has contacted us, we have told them that the domain transfer will only happen after the agreement is signed. They have asked us to visit Mumbai to sign the agreement."  expecting the agreement to be signed soon.

"As soon as this happens, we will transfer the domain and this website will come to an end," the message said.

Reliance had recently announced completion of the merger of its media assets with the India business of global media monster The Walt Disney, forming a joint venture worth around Rs 70,352 crore.

The joint venture will be one of the biggest media and entertainment companies in India with an integrated revenue of around Rs 26,000 crore and will be headed by Nita Ambani as its chairperson.