Anil Kapoor Wins Legal Battle Over AI Misuse Of Personality Rights

Prominent Indian actor Anil Kapoor has achieved victory in a groundbreaking legal battle against the unauthorized utilization of his identity by artificial intelligence (AI), as reported by Variety. Kapoor, represented by lawyer Ameet Naik in the Delhi High Court, initiated legal action to safeguard his personality rights, encompassing his name, image, likeness, voice, and other attributes, particularly in the realm of digital media, to prevent any form of misuse.

The lawsuit highlighted several instances of unauthorized use of Kapoor’s attributes. Following an extensive hearing, the court issued a historic order acknowledging his personality rights and prohibiting individuals or entities from exploiting his persona without consent in any capacity. This pivotal court ruling extends protection to Kapoor’s rights globally across all modes and media.

Kapoor expressed his contentment with the court’s decision, viewing it as a progressive step not only for himself but for fellow actors. He emphasized the vital need for such protection, especially in the context of advancing AI technology, which has the potential to manipulate an individual’s image, voice, or other attributes for commercial purposes.

He clarified that his legal action extends beyond his personal interests and aims to ensure that his family can protect his personality rights and derive benefits from them in the future. Kapoor underscored that his intention is not to curb freedom of expression but to safeguard personality rights in an era of rapid technological advancement, including artificial intelligence.

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The legal action also extends protection to Kapoor’s iconic phrase “jhakaas,” which he popularized in the 1985 film Yudh. This phrase, roughly meaning ‘awesome’ or ‘wicked,’ had been misused in various contexts.

Recently, Kapoor participated in the Toronto Film Festival, where his film “Thank You for Coming” enjoyed a gala screening. He praised the vibrant representation of Indian cinema at the festival and expressed gratitude for the warm reception.