Delhi HC Grants Interim Injunction To Naga Chaitanya Over Identity Misuse Case
Delhi HC restrains misuse of actor’s identity and AI content.
The Delhi High Court has granted interim protection to Telugu actor Naga Chaitanya, restraining multiple online platforms and unidentified entities from misusing his name, image, likeness, and AI-generated representations in pornographic, defamatory, and commercial content.
The order was passed by a single-judge bench of Justice Jyoti Singh in an ex parte ad-interim injunction on a commercial suit filed by the actor. The court directed the immediate removal of objectionable content and also restrained the unauthorised sale of merchandise carrying the actor’s image and persona, observing that such material created a false impression of endorsement or association.
According to the petition, several websites were allegedly using Naga Chaitanya’s name as tags, categories, and search labels for pornographic content, thereby linking his identity with obscene material without consent. The plea also flagged the circulation of defamatory content and AI-generated visuals that depicted the actor in inappropriate scenarios, raising concerns about misuse of emerging digital technologies.
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The court observed that the actor has built substantial goodwill over a career spanning more than 15 years in the Indian film industry, with notable performances in films such as Ye Maaya Chesave, Manam, and Majili. It held that his personality attributes—including his name, image, voice, and likeness—are legally protectable rights that cannot be commercially exploited without authorisation.
Justice Singh noted that the actor had made a prima facie case for interim relief and said the balance of convenience lay in his favour, as continued misuse could cause irreparable harm to his reputation. The court also specifically addressed concerns around AI tools, restraining defendants from using technologies such as generative AI, deepfakes, and face morphing to create misleading or explicit content involving the actor.
The court directed all identified defendants, including online intermediaries and “John Doe” entities, to remove infringing URLs and listings within 24 hours of receiving the order. The matter will next be heard by the Joint Registrar on July 27 and by the High Court on September 30, as similar personality rights cases involving celebrities continue to rise before the Delhi High Court.
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