Salman Khan moves Delhi HC seeking protection of personality rights
What's the story
Bollywood actor Salman Khan has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights. The plea, which will be heard on December 11, Thursday, asks for an injunction against social media platforms and e-commerce websites from using his name, images, persona, or likeness without authorization. This move is part of a growing trend among celebrities to protect their identities from unauthorized commercial exploitation.
Legal implications
Khan's petition highlights unauthorized exploitation of personality rights
Khan's petition emphasizes that the unauthorized use of his name, photograph, voice, or likeness not only violates his personality rights but also misleads the public by creating false endorsements or associations. This allows third parties to profit from his reputation without consent. Khan is "aggrieved by the use of his persona, including his image, voice, and other traits, for commercial use without his consent."
Importance
What are personality rights, and why do they matter?
Personality rights, also known as publicity rights, allow individuals to protect and profit from their image, name, or likeness. In India, celebrities can file a case if their name or image is used without consent. This is especially important in today's digital age, where deepfakes, AI-generated content, and unlicensed celebrity-themed merchandise are prevalent.
Similar cases
Delhi HC's interim protection to other celebrities
The Delhi High Court has recently granted interim protection to numerous celebrities who have filed similar petitions. These include Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Ajay Devgn, Karan Johar, Kumar Sanu, Nagarjuna Akkineni, and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Telugu actor NTR Jr. has also approached the court with a similar plea. Meanwhile, on the work front, Khan is currently shooting for Battle of Galwan.