Manoj Bajpayee moves Delhi High Court to protect personality rights from AI misuse
In a notable legal move, actor Manoj Bajpayee has turned to the Delhi High Court to safeguard his identity. He claims his image and voice have been used without permission, particularly through AI technologies. The court raised issues regarding jurisdiction; however, Bajpayee's legal team referenced defendants based in Delhi. This petition mirrors the growing trend of public figures seeking…
Actor Manoj Bajpayee has taken his case to the Delhi High Court in an effort to safeguard his identity and image from potential misuse, particularly through artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The 57-year-old actor filed a petition on Monday, alleging that his likeness has been exploited to endorse products and that AI is being employed to replicate his voice and persona.
Live Law reports that the matter was heard briefly by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, who later assigned the task to Senior Advocate Swathi Sukumar.
The lawsuit targets two specific defendants: H2PG Designs Private Limited, which is accused of utilizing Bajpayee's photographs to imply he was wearing suits they manufactured, and another party allegedly employing AI to generate Bajpayee's voice. Additionally, concerns have been raised regarding AI chatbots drawing elements from the actor's personality.
The court also questioned the decision to hear the case in Delhi instead of Mumbai, where Bajpayee primarily resides, given that some defendants are based in the latter city.
Sukumar explained that since several defendants are located in Delhi, the court has jurisdiction to consider the matter. She advised the court that, in cases where defendants do not contest the claims, it may be unnecessary to hold lengthy hearings. Sukumar was then instructed to gather records of past rulings on personality rights issues, detailing how other High Courts have addressed similar cases.
Bajpayee's legal action is not an isolated instance, as similar precedents have been set by the Delhi High Court in favor of other prominent public figures like Tabu, cricketers Abhishek Sharma and Yuvraj Singh, politician Shashi Tharoor, and actor Pawan Kalyan. Other Bollywood celebrities, including Allu Arjun, Mohanlal, Kajol, R Madhavan, Jr NTR, Sunil Gavaskar, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, have also been granted similar protections through the court's intervention.
Outside India, cases involving figures such as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Nagarjuna, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Karan Johar have received comparable relief. Notably, Salman Khan has similarly sought court intervention in a related matter.
This legal challenge underscores the growing apprehension among public figures regarding unauthorized endorsements and AI-generated content that mimics their appearance and voice. The case highlights the need for legal safeguards in the digital age to protect the identities and reputations of individuals from unauthorized exploitation.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
