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Delhi HC Protects Kajol's Personality Rights, Bans Unauthorized AI Use

The Delhi High Court has granted Bollywood actress Kajol Devgan an interim injunction to protect her personality and publicity rights. The order restrains entities from using her name, image, or likeness for commercial gain without authorization. It also directs the immediate removal of obscene and pornographic content circulated online in her name. The court's protection explicitly covers misuse through AI tools and deepfake technology.

Key Points: Delhi HC Grants Kajol Injunction in Personality Rights Case

  • Injunction against unauthorized commercial use
  • Mandates removal of obscene content
  • Protection extends to AI & deepfakes
  • Part of growing celebrity rights trend
2 min read

Delhi HC grants injunction in favour of Kajol in personality rights case

Delhi High Court protects Kajol's image, bans unauthorized commercial use & AI deepfakes. Order includes removal of obscene content.

"no entity can commercially exploit the actress' identity without her consent - Delhi High Court"

New Delhi, Feb 20

The Delhi High Court on Friday passed an ad-interim injunction protecting the personality and publicity rights of Bollywood actress Kajol Devgan, restraining various entities from unauthorised use of her name, image and likeness for commercial gains and directing the removal of obscene and pornographic content published against her.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice in the suit filed by the actress and granted interim protection, restraining the defendants from using Kajol's photographs and other personality attributes while selling commercial merchandise without her authorisation.

Justice Singh further directed the immediate takedown of pornographic and objectionable material circulated on different online platforms in her name.

The Delhi High Court observed that prima facie, the plaintiff had made out a case for protection of her personality and publicity rights against unauthorised commercial exploitation and misuse.

A detailed order would be passed restraining the misuse of Kajol's personality traits, including her name, image, voice and other identifiable attributes, through Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools or Deepfake technology.

The interim relief was granted in a plea seeking protection against the misuse of Kajol's personality rights, including unauthorised sale of merchandise bearing her image and the circulation of morphed, obscene and defamatory material on the Internet.

The Delhi High Court observed that no entity can commercially exploit the actress' identity without her consent and that social media platforms and other online intermediaries are required to act promptly upon being notified of infringing content.

The Kajol case adds to a growing list of high-profile personalities invoking their personality and publicity rights before the Delhi High Court.

In recent months, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, actor Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (Jr NTR), spiritual leader and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, actors Nagarjuna, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Abhishek Bachchan, film-maker Karan Johar, and podcaster Raj Shamani have secured court protection against the unauthorised use of their identity, likeness, or AI-generated imitations.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Finally, the courts are catching up with technology. The part about directing takedown of pornographic material is crucial. This isn't just about money; it's about dignity and safety online, especially for women in the public eye.
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Aman W
While I support the protection, I hope this doesn't become a tool to stifle all fan-made content, memes, or harmless tributes. The line between commercial exploitation and public admiration can be thin. The detailed order will be interesting.
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Sarah B
It's good to see Indian law evolving. The list of other personalities who have sought similar protection is impressive—from cricketers to spiritual leaders. It shows this is a widespread issue affecting all kinds of public figures.
K
Karthik V
The unauthorized merchandise part is a big problem in India. You see t-shirts, posters, and mugs with celebrity faces sold on every footpath. This judgment should make those sellers think twice. Kajol is a legend, she deserves this protection.
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Nikhil C
A respectful criticism: I hope the enforcement is as strong as the judgment. Getting platforms to "act promptly" is easier said than done. The legal system needs a fast-track mechanism for such digital violations to be truly effective.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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