Back
Permanently Bars Videos Misusing Rajat Sharma's Image and Trademarks
The has issued a protecting journalist Rajat Sharma and his television network from the misuse of videos and . Justice Jyoti Singh decreed the suit on , bringing finality to a case that highlighted the growing threat of in the digital age.
The Case of the AI-Generated Impersonation
Rajat Sharma, a Padma Bhushan awardee and the face of India’s longest-running television show Aap Ki Adalat for 29 years, approached the court in . The plaintiffs alleged that several defendants were circulating doctored videos created using artificial intelligence, which distorted Sharma’s image, voice, and other personality traits. These videos also made unauthorized use of ’s registered trademarks, causing and damaging the network’s .
The suit sought a against the infringement of Sharma’s , as well as ’s trademark and in its cinematographic films and .
Court Proceedings and Key Orders
The court initially passed an on , restraining the then-named defendants from infringing the plaintiffs’ rights. was directed to block, remove, or the and disclose details of the operators. During the pendency of the suit, four YouTube channels—impleaded as defendants 13 to 16—were found to be circulating videos using Sharma’s persona. was subsequently directed to these channels and provide and access details.
Defendants 1 to 3, 5 to 8, 14, and 16 were served but did not file , leading to the closure of their right to do so on . The plaintiffs later gave up certain reliefs against the and the , and chose not to press for a declaration of ’s trademarks as “well-known,” reserving the right to seek it in a subsequent suit.
Legal Analysis: Protecting in the AI Era
The court recognized that the unauthorized use of Sharma’s persona through AI-generated deepfakes amounted to a clear infringement of his . It also noted the unauthorized use and infringement of ’s registered trademarks and . The was passed in terms of paragraphs 100(a) to (e) of the plaint, which sought a against such misuse.
The judgment recorded that the defendants were “perpetuating gross misinformation including through wrongful use of AI technology for creation of doctored video bearing distorted, modified and modulated images/voice and other personality traits.”
The Final Decision and Its Implications
The suit was decreed with a against defendants 1 to 3, 5 to 8, 14, and 16. The plaintiffs were granted Meta and Google with details of any subsequently discovered URLs or content that misuse Sharma’s persona or ’s marks. The platforms must acknowledge such requests within 24 hours and take action within 36 hours, failing which the plaintiffs may approach the court for appropriate directions.
This ruling underscores the robust protection Indian courts afford to in the digital age, especially against AI-generated deepfakes. It also provides a clear template for celebrities and media organizations to swiftly enforce their rights against anonymous online infringers, setting a significant precedent for future cases involving misuse of technology.
