Justice Jyoti Singh, in an interim order on a lawsuit by Gambhir, said that as one of the "most decorated cricketers of this country", he has the right to "protect his name, likeness and all other attributes of his personality and no third party has a right to use these attributes without his consent/authorisation".Justice Jyoti Singh, in an interim order on a lawsuit by Gambhir, said that as one of the "most decorated cricketers of this country", he has the right to "protect his name, likeness and all oth ...

Fresh after winning the T20 World Cup 2026 at home a week ago, India men's cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has moved to Delhi High Court, seeking comprehensive protection of his personality and publicity rights against a coordinated campaign of digital impersonation, AI-generated deepfakes, and unauthorised commercial exploitation.A two-time former World Cup-winning Indian cricketer, Gambhir filed a civil suit before the High Court of Delhi (C.S. (COMM.) of 2026). Damages of ₹2.5 crore have been clai ...

Core Viewpoint - The lawsuit by Baba Ramdev against social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms centers on the alleged misappropriation and commercial exploitation of his personality, image, and identity through various online channels, raising significant issues regarding personality rights and freedom of speech [1][7]. Group 1: Legal Arguments and Perspectives - Counsel for X argued against the indiscriminate blocking of accounts in personality rights cases, emphasizing that such actions can have a chilling effect on freedom of speech, particularly when the content in question is not egregious [1][10]. - The defense highlighted that a meme referenced in the lawsuit was satire, which is protected under democratic principles, asserting that satire and public speech should not violate personality rights [2][10]. - Counsel for Meta Platforms supported the notion that while egregious content can be removed, there should be evidence of tangible monetization by third parties before global blocking orders are issued [5][10]. Group 2: Content and Impact - Ramdev's lawsuit claims that social media platforms have allowed the circulation of AI-generated deepfake videos and doctored images that exploit his personality, infringing on his publicity rights and violating his fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution [7][9]. - The lawsuit argues that the ongoing dissemination of infringing materials poses a risk of irreversible dilution of Ramdev's spiritual persona, necessitating heightened protection for the identity of spiritual leaders [8][9]. - Both X and Meta Platforms acknowledged the removal of certain offending content, but raised concerns about the implications of personality rights claims on fair reporting, particularly regarding news organizations [6][10].

Legal Developments in the Delhi High Court - The Delhi High Court was involved in high-profile cases, including the suspension of the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Sengar, which was later stayed by the Supreme Court amid public uproar [2][3][22] - Corporates like Apple Inc challenged the Competition Commission of India's directive to furnish audited financial statements, while Indigo sought a refund of over ₹900 crore for customs duties on re-imported aircraft parts [15][22] - The high court dismissed petitions from restaurant bodies against the Central Consumer Protection Authority's guidelines prohibiting mandatory service charges, deeming it against public interest [18][23] Celebrity and Political Cases - Several Bollywood stars and politicians approached the high court for protection of their personality rights, including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Salman Khan, and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan [4][6][22] - Karisma Kapoor's children contested the authenticity of their late father's will, claiming their stepmother was "greedy," while Priya Kapur defended the will, stating the children had already received ₹1,900 crore from the family trust [7][8][22] Educational and Social Issues - The high court emphasized the need for a functional anti-ragging helpline due to increasing student suicides and directed that no law college can bar students from exams due to attendance issues [12][13][22] - The court also agreed to hear a plea from the Popular Front of India against a tribunal order upholding a five-year ban on the group [14][22]

Industry Trend - Bollywood stars are fighting for personality rights amid a surge in deepfakes [1]