Delhi High Court: Kangana Ranaut, Vijay Deverakonda Personality Rights Notices Issued

• The Delhi High Court has issued notices in response to pleas from actors Kangana Ranaut and Vijay Deverakonda.
• Both actors are seeking the protection of their personality rights against various forms of digital exploitation.
• Vijay Deverakonda's petition specifically targets deepfakes, AI-generated content, fake endorsements, and unauthorized merchandise.
• Notices have been served to major social media and e-commerce platforms, including Meta, X Corp, Google, Flipkart, Amazon, Meesho, and Red Bubble.
• Justice Vikas Mahajan is overseeing these significant cases concerning celebrity rights protection online.

For legal professionals and compliance officers, this development signals a heightened judicial willingness to tackle emerging threats to personality rights, particularly those involving deepfakes, AI-generated content, and unauthorized commercial exploitation on digital platforms.

The Delhi High Court recently initiated proceedings concerning the protection of personality rights for two prominent Indian public figures. Justice Vikas Mahajan presided over the initial submissions in pleas filed by actor and Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut, alongside actor Vijay Deverakonda. The court has issued notices to various social media intermediaries and other entities implicated in the alleged infringement of the actors' rights, requesting their responses to the serious allegations.

These legal actions underscore a growing concern among celebrities regarding the unauthorized use of their identity and likeness in the digital realm. Both Ranaut and Deverakonda are seeking judicial intervention to safeguard their unique personality attributes from exploitation, highlighting the increasing need for robust celebrity rights protection online in India's evolving digital landscape. The court's decision to issue notices signals its willingness to engage with these complex issues.

Vijay Deverakonda's petition outlines a comprehensive array of grievances, detailing how his persona has been misused across various online platforms. His counsel, Senior Advocate Swathi Sukumar, assisted by advocates Rahul Kukreja and Sahil Raveen, presented evidence to the court, illustrating instances of content that not only impersonates the actor but also promotes fake endorsements and operates deceptive websites, thereby misleading the public.

A significant aspect of Deverakonda's plea targets the proliferation of obscene, defamatory, and abusive content, specifically highlighting material generated through advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), deepfakes, and other forms of digital manipulation that leverage his distinct personality traits. Furthermore, the actor has identified mobile applications available on the Google Play Store that exploit his attributes without consent. His petition also addresses the unauthorised commercial exploitation AI and other digital means enable, citing the sale of merchandise like t-shirts and mugs that unlawfully feature his likeness. To combat these infringements, Deverakonda has requested the takedown of such content and products from major digital platforms, including Meta platforms, X Corp, Google, Flipkart, Amazon, Meesho, and Red Bubble.

The Delhi High Court's engagement with these petitions marks a crucial development in the landscape of personality rights India deepfake and AI-generated content. The issuance of a Delhi High Court notice social media intermediaries and e-commerce platforms reflects the judiciary's recognition of the urgent need to address the challenges posed by digital technologies to individual identities. This case, overseen by Justice Vikas Mahajan personality rights, could set important precedents for how courts in India interpret and enforce these rights in the age of advanced digital manipulation.

For legal professionals and compliance officers, this development signals a heightened judicial willingness to tackle emerging threats to personality rights, particularly those involving deepfakes, AI-generated content, and unauthorized commercial exploitation on digital platforms. The proceedings highlight the increasing importance of advising clients, especially public figures, on proactive measures and online impersonation legal remedies to counter digital identity infringement and brand dilution. The outcome of these pleas will be closely watched for its implications on the future of celebrity rights protection and digital content regulation.

Lawyers and compliance officers should note the Delhi High Court's willingness to address emerging challenges to personality rights, particularly concerning deepfakes, AI-generated content, and unauthorized commercial exploitation on digital platforms. This signals a growing need to advise clients, especially public figures, on proactive measures and legal remedies against digital identity infringement and brand dilution.

Source: Original reporting via legal news report