Actor-turned-entrepreneur Vivek Oberoi has approached the Delhi High Court seeking legal protection for his personality rights to prevent the widespread misuse of his identity on digital platforms. The petition, filed through advocates Sana Raees Khan and Pranay Chitale, asks the court to restrain multiple defendants, including unidentified parties listed as John Doe, from exploiting or misappropriating elements unique to Oberoi. This includes his name, image, voice, and other identifiable aspects of his persona without his consent.
Oberoi has also requested the removal of postcards, posters, videos, and social media content that allegedly violate his rights. The suit claims that individuals have been impersonating him online, creating fake profiles, selling unauthorized merchandise, and circulating AI-generated content. Some of this content allegedly uses deepfake technology to superimpose his face in objectionable visuals.
The petition emphasizes that while some content is offensive or defamatory, other material could exploit Oberoi’s identity for commercial gain. It states that only the plaintiff has the right to control the commercial use of his name, likeness, image, and other identifiable characteristics, and no one may use or imitate these without his explicit consent.
The court has previously granted personality rights protection to numerous celebrities, including Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kumar Sanu, Sunil Gavaskar, R. Madhavan, Karan Johar, Jr. NTR, and Nagarjuna. Abhishek Bachchan, in a past interview, highlighted why such legal protections are necessary, especially in the digital age. He shared that he and Aishwarya had earlier approached the court to safeguard their daughter’s privacy after offensive content appeared online. He also successfully defended his father’s digital rights, setting landmark precedents. Bachchan urged other public figures to take similar steps, noting that AI and deepfake technologies increasingly blur the lines of consent and identity, making such legal protections essential today.
