The Delhi High Court has issued an interim injunction in favor of actor and BJP MP Ravi Kishan, preventing various entities from exploiting his name, image, voice, and other personal attributes without authorization, including through technologies like Artificial Intelligence. The court order came in response to a commercial suit filed by Ravi Kishan against multiple defendants, accusing them of misusing his persona through AI-generated content, obscene videos, fabricated statements on social media, and unauthorized commercial activities.
Ravi Kishan’s suit highlighted the misuse of his identity for sexually explicit and pornographic material on websites and the dissemination of offensive content on social media platforms that damaged his reputation. The court acknowledged Ravi Kishan’s extensive career in the entertainment industry spanning over three decades and his significant goodwill and commercial value as a public figure. It emphasized his exclusive rights to protect his personality attributes and prevent their unauthorized commercial exploitation.
The court recognized Ravi Kishan’s entitlement to safeguard his personality rights, emphasizing the legal protection deserved, especially in cases where unauthorized use leads to commercial harm, privacy invasion, or damage to dignity. Consequently, the Delhi High Court prohibited the defendants from using any aspect of Ravi Kishan’s persona for personal or commercial gain through various technologies, including AI and deepfakes, across different media platforms. It also instructed immediate removal of infringing content and URLs by identified parties and intermediaries within specified timelines.
The case involving Ravi Kishan is part of a trend where prominent personalities, including cricketers, actors, singers, and spiritual leaders, have sought legal protection against unauthorized use of their identities or AI-generated imitations. The matter is scheduled for further proceedings before the Delhi High Court in the coming months.
