After Aishwarya Rai, filmmaker Karan Johar has approached Delhi HC, seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights, and has urged the court to stop illegal sale of his merchandise like mugs and t-shirts, bearing his name and image.
Johar on Monday moved Delhi HC to prevent unauthorised uses of his persona, face or voice.
According to a PTI report, Justice Manmeet PS Arora has sought certain clarifications from the counsel regarding Johar’s plea and has listed the matter for 4 pm for further proceedings.
The popular Bollywood filmmaker has requested the court to pass an order directing certain websites and platforms who are illegally selling his merchandise.
“I have a right to ensure that no one unauthorisedly uses my persona, face or voice,” senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, appearing for Johar, said.
Just a week back, Delhi HC took steps to protect Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s identity as Justice Tejas Karia said the unauthorised use of a celebrity’s likeness without consent not only causes commercial harm but also undermines their right to privacy and dignity.
The court had acted on Bachchan’s plea that highlighted several websites and unidentified individuals were circulating AI-generated pornographic and intimate visuals by superimposing her face, apart from selling merchandise without her permission. The court in an interim order restrained such platforms from sharing or selling any products such as T-shirts, mugs, posters or digital content using the actor’s name, likeness, or persona.
Aishwarya-Abhishek get relief from Delhi HC
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s husband Abhishek Bachchan also got relief from Delhi HC after he filed a similar plea seeking to protect his personality and publicity right. The HC noted that Bachchan’s personality including his name, images, signatures are being misused by websites without his authorisation, with the usage of artificial intelligence.
Several notable personalities from Indian entertainment industry have took the legal route to protect their personality rights.
When Amitabh Bachchan alleged misuse of his name in fake KBC shows
In 2022, Amitabh Bachchan moved Delhi HC for restraining defendants from infringing his personality rights by misusing his name, likeness, photograph, voice and other personality traits and attributes for commercial gain. Bachchan had alleged his name, image and voice were being misused by way of messages over WhatsApp in relation to several fake Kaun Banega Crorepati game shows as well as certain lottery scams. The Delhi HC had recognized and protected his personality rights and barred defendants from such illegal and unauthorised use of the actor’s name.
Other biggies who moved HC for similar protection
Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Arijit Singh and PV Sandhu have also approached court in the past seeking protection from unauthorised use of their personality and publicity rights.