Amitabh Bachchan Gets Permanent Protection Against Unauthorised Use of His Name, Image and Voice

The Delhi High Court has permanently restrained individuals and entities from commercially exploiting Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan’s name, image, voice and other aspects of his personality without his permission. The final order strengthens the interim protection granted in November 2022, when the actor approached the court over the unauthorised use of his identity across digital platforms and commercial products.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav passed the decree in a commercial suit filed by Bachchan in 2022, seeking protection against the misuse of his personality and publicity rights.

The case involved the unauthorised use of his identity through mobile applications, online domains, merchandise, posters and quiz books. The court held that his name, likeness, voice and distinctive persona could not be commercially exploited without his consent.

Four Defendants Enter Into Settlements

The court's final decision followed settlement agreements with four defendants and summary judgments against four others who did not appear in the proceedings.

The four defendants who settled included the creator of a fake video-call application, a publisher of an unauthorised quiz book, a seller of merchandise posters and a person who had registered an infringing domain name.

Under the settlements, they agreed to surrender the infringing assets and refrain from using Bachchan's identity without authorisation in the future. They were also discharged from monetary damages under the terms of the agreements.

The court passed orders against four other defendants who failed to file written statements. Invoking Order VIII Rule 10 of the Code of Civil Procedure, it observed that the unauthorised commercial use of the actor's identity did not involve disputed facts requiring a full trial.

Permanent Protection Covers Unknown Online Infringers

The Delhi High Court also extended the protection to unidentified individuals and entities that might attempt to misuse Bachchan's identity in the future.

Such orders, commonly known as 'John Doe' or 'Ashok Kumar' orders, allow legal protection to cover anonymous infringers whose identities are not known when proceedings begin.

The court gave Bachchan the liberty to initiate fresh legal proceedings or seek enforcement of the decree against any new person or entity found exploiting his name, image, voice or persona without permission.

Court Reaffirms Celebrity Personality Rights

The ruling reinforces the legal protection available to public figures against the unauthorised commercial use of their identity.

Bachchan's case highlighted how a celebrity's personality can be exploited through digital applications, websites and merchandise, potentially misleading consumers into believing that the actor has endorsed or is associated with a product or service.

By making the protection permanent, the Delhi High Court has strengthened Bachchan's ability to take legal action against both identified defendants and anonymous entities attempting to profit from his identity.