After Aishwarya Rai’s win, Delhi HC to pass interim order on Karan Johar’s plea to protect personality rights: Report

Filmmaker Karan Johar is set to receive interim relief from the Delhi High Court in his plea to protect his personality and publicity rights. On Wednesday, the court said it may pass an order in his favour, which is an important step to protect the use of his name, image and identity. This development follows closely on the heels of respective orders favoured for Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan.

As reported by PTI, the court has also issued summons to several online platforms and websites connected to Johar’s lawsuit, while asking social media intermediaries, including Meta Platforms, to provide subscriber information and IT log details. “In the IA, I will pass a detailed order. Injunction to be granted,” Justice Manmeet PS Arora orally indicated.

Summons issued to platforms in Johar’s case

The Delhi High Court has summoned various online platforms and websites after Johar filed his suit. Social media intermediaries have been asked to share Basic Subscriber Information and IT log details to help track misuse of his name and image.

KJo raises concerns about identity misuse

As per the report, the ‘Student of the Year’ director told the court that multiple entities have been using his name, image, persona and likeness without consent for commercial gain. His plea raised concerns including unauthorised merchandise sales, misleading or obscene use of his image, domain name misuse, impersonation, and fake profiles.

He also asked the court to stop websites and platforms from selling products like mugs and T-shirts featuring his image. His counsel, senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, said, “I have a right to ensure that no one unauthorisedly uses my persona, face or voice.”

The right to publicity, also called personality rights, lets a person protect and control how their name, image or likeness is used. Johar’s case is about making sure no one uses these without his permission.

One defendant commits to removing flagged content

The counsel for one of the defendants, Redbubble, stated the company would remove the infringing content mentioned in the plaint within a week.

Meanwhile, the counsel for Meta Platforms argued that many of the flagged posts were not defamatory. According to them, “These are ordinary people having comments and having discussions. Most of them are satire and jokes and not defamatory.”

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s victory in similar case

Johar’s plea comes soon after the Delhi High Court gave protection to actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who had also asked the court to protect her personality rights.

Earlier, the court stopped online platforms from using Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s name and images for commercial purposes. It said that using a celebrity’s identity without permission can cause financial loss and affect their right to live with dignity.