The Delhi Court, on Wednesday, granted protection to the rights to Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor's person and attributes.
The court restrained brands and companies from using his name, image, voice, manner of speaking, and gestures, including his popular catchphrase 'Jhakaas' and mimicry, for commercial purposes.
Kapoor filed a lawsuit against several websites and platforms for misusing tools such as generative artificial intelligence used to "prejudice his hard-earned goodwill and reputation".
Advocate Pravin Anand, who was appearing for Kapoor, pointed to the unauthorised sale of merchandise, collection of fees by using his photograph as a motivational speaker, morphing his image in a derogatory manner, and selling pictures with forged autographs and use of the 'Jhakaas' catchphrase, among others.
Bollywood Actor Anil Kapoor files lawsuit against wesbite and other platforms for violating his personality rights for commercial gain
© Photo : Twitter
Justice Prathiba M Singh passed the ex-parte interim order against several websites and platforms, saying that although there can be no doubt that free speech about a well-known person is protected in the form of write-ups, news, satire, parody, the same would be illegal when it "crosses the line" and results in tarnishing and jeopardising individual personality rights.
Generative Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are enabling the misuse of a celebrity's persona, the court pointed out.
The court ordered MeitY and Internet Service Providers to take down links hosting pornographic content featuring deep fakes of the actor.