Kartik Aaryan Moves Bombay High Court to Protect Personality Rights Against Digital Misuse
Actor Kartik Aaryan has taken a firm legal stand to safeguard his identity, approaching the Bombay High Court to address the unauthorized commercial use of his persona across various online platforms. The lawsuit highlights the increasing vulnerability of public figures to digital exploitation, including the rise of AI-generated content.
Seeking Intellectual Property Protection
The actor has filed an intellectual property (IP) suit aimed at protecting his name, image, likeness, and other unique identifiable attributes. The plea specifically targets several online entities and unidentified “John Doe” parties accused of using his persona for commercial profit without his consent.
Some of the key demands in the petition include – Permanent Injunction wherein the court order to stop entities from using his identity in advertisements, merchandise, or unauthorized digital content. The next is Content Takedowns while the Direction for platforms to remove existing infringing material immediately. And the last one is Disclosure of Identity which comes like a request for platforms to reveal the details of individuals responsible for the misuse.
The Rise of AI and Digital Risks
Aaryan’s legal team emphasized that the misuse has evolved beyond traditional advertisements to include manipulated media and AI-generated material. The petition argues that such unauthorized usage not only violates his personal privacy and publicity rights but also poses a significant risk of misleading the public through fake endorsements.
A Growing Trend in Celebrity Rights
This move by Kartik Aaryan follows a series of similar legal actions by Indian celebrities seeking to establish “personality rights.” In recent months, Indian courts have become increasingly vigilant regarding the misuse of celebrity identities, particularly concerning deepfakes and unauthorized digital reproductions on e-commerce and social media sites.
The case is expected to be heard shortly, with the actor seeking urgent relief to prevent further exploitation as he navigates a busy professional schedule, including upcoming projects like NaagZilla and his musical collaboration with Anurag Basu.
