The Delhi High Court has issued an interim injunction in favor of Sanjiv Goenka, owner of Lucknow Super Giants, preventing unauthorized use of his name and image on digital platforms, including AI-generated content. This decision came during a commercial suit filed by Goenka against Google LLC and others for allegedly defamatory and misleading content on social media misusing his persona. The court acknowledged the plaintiff as a distinguished business leader and held that failure to grant relief could harm his reputation irreparably.
The court noted that various social media posts and AI-generated content were portraying Goenka in a derogatory manner, spreading fake news, and causing reputational damage. It emphasized that such content went beyond permissible parody and infringed on Goenka’s personality rights. Justice Gedela highlighted that the misuse of an individual’s persona for unearned commercial gain is protected under the right of publicity, citing precedents to support the decision.
Additionally, the Delhi High Court restrained unknown entities and others from using Goenka’s name, image, and identifiable attributes without authorization, including through technologies like AI and deepfakes. It directed platforms such as Google and Meta Platforms Inc. to remove infringing content identified by the plaintiff and disclose account information responsible for such content. The court scheduled further proceedings for July 16 and September 18 to address the matter comprehensively.
