Delhi HC Grants Injunction To Sonakshi Sinha Against Unauthorised Use Of Identity

The Delhi High Court has granted an ex parte ad interim injunction in favour of Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha, prohibiting multiple entities from exploiting her identity without authorisation.

The order bars AI chatbots, e-commerce sites, and domain registrars from using her identity without consent. It also restrains unknown ‘John Doe’ operators from misusing her name, image, voice, and persona.

The order was delivered by Justice Jyoti Singh while hearing a suit alleging widespread unauthorised usage of the actor’s persona.

The complaint highlighted AI-generated chatbots, deepfake-style visuals, and the sale of merchandise falsely implying her endorsement, alongside the circulation of objectionable content.

The Court acknowledged Sinha’s prominence, noting her impactful debut in Dabangg and her sustained reputation within the industry. It was observed that several chatbot services enabled interactions impersonating the actress, often producing inappropriate and explicit material.

The Bench found that various defendants commercially exploited her identity to promote products, misleading consumers into believing in her association. It further emphasised that such actions inflicted reputational harm, particularly where AI-generated images portrayed her in indecent or distorted representations.

Reaffirming legal safeguards, the Court held that personality rights grant individuals exclusive control over their identity.

The court held that Sinha proved a prima facie case, favoured her claim, and saw risk of irreparable harm without intervention.

The Court further directed immediate cessation of such activities and ordered removal of infringing online links within 36 hours. The matter will next be heard on July 6.

Several public figures, including Sunil Gavaskar, Kajol, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, have recently sought similar legal protection.