Published on: May 15, 2024 11:26 IST
Actor Jackie Shroff has taken legal action against various entities for exploiting his name and personality attributes without authorization for commercial purposes.
Counsel representing Shroff raised objections in the Delhi High Court against the misuse of his personality rights, including the sale of merchandise, ringtones, wallpapers, and the creation of memes and GIFs. Allegations also include the unauthorized use of artificial intelligence and infringement of his trademark rights on Marathi slang “bhidu.”
Delhi High Court Bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula has issued summons to the concerned entities named in the lawsuit and scheduled further consideration for Wednesday. Shroff’s legal team emphasized the importance of protecting consumers from being misled into purchasing products falsely endorsed by the actor, who has an extensive body of work spanning over 200 films. The counsel asserted that Shroff’s well-known persona adds marketability to his name, and any commercial use without his consent is unacceptable.
High Court was informed of various unauthorized merchandise, including mugs, signed posters, and bags being sold online, violating Shroff’s rights. Additionally, objectionable content such as derogatory memes and morphed images were highlighted as damaging to Shroff’s reputation. The lawyer representing Shroff emphasized the defamatory nature of such activities and emphasized that they serve no legitimate purpose.
It was also revealed that some defendants have ceased the unauthorized use of Shroff’s personality traits. Shroff’s counsel cited previous court orders in similar lawsuits involving actors Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor in support of their case.
The case underscores the importance of safeguarding celebrities’ rights over their names, images, and personas in the digital age, especially in light of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence being misused for commercial exploitation. Further developments are expected as the court continues to address the matter.