Sunil Gavaskar approaches Delhi HC for protection of personality rights
What's the story
Former Indian cricketer and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality rights. He is the first cricketer to do so after several Bollywood actors. The petition seeks to prevent unauthorized use of his name, likeness, image, and other aspects of his persona by various entities. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora ordered social media intermediaries to take necessary steps within seven days while hearing the case on Friday.
Previous case
Gavaskar's petition comes after Delhi HC's ruling on Khan's suit
Gavaskar's petition comes on the heels of the Delhi HC hearing a personality rights suit filed by actor Salman Khan. The court had ordered social media platforms to respond within three days to Khan's petition. Khan's petition stated that several entities are using his identity without permission, claiming that this could confuse customers and cause irreversible damage to his commercial and personal rights.
Legal precedent
Delhi HC's recent rulings on personality rights
The Delhi High Court has recently been instrumental in defining the legal landscape of personality rights for several celebrities. This includes actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, and podcaster Raj Shamani. The court has acknowledged that individuals possess an exclusive right to control the commercial use of their persona, particularly in an era dominated by deepfakes and AI-generated content.