The Delhi High Court on Wednesday protected the personality and publicity rights of veteran playback singer Kumar Sanu and directed that objectionable videos against him be removed from social media.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora said the court would pass a detailed interim injunction order safeguarding Sanu’s rights and ordering the takedown of offending material.

The Case of Kumar Sanu

Sanu approached the court seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights, covering his name, voice, likeness, images, caricatures, photographs, signature, and even distinctive elements of performance such as vocal style, technique, arrangements, interpretations, and mannerisms. He also sought to restrain unauthorised or unlicensed commercial exploitation likely to confuse or deceive the public.

During the hearing, counsel for one of the defendants noted that Sanu had flagged four Facebook and Instagram profiles, and that the 334 URLs provided by the singer had already become unavailable. The suit, filed through advocates Shikha Sachdeva and Sana Raees Khan, also alleges violation of Sanu’s moral rights in his performances under the Copyright Act.

The AI angle

Sanu’s plea specifically objects to content generated with artificial intelligence to clone his voice, mimic his vocal style and technique, and morph his face, sometimes even used on merchandise, turning him into the subject of “unsavoury humour.” The filing argues such content earns revenue for uploaders via views and clicks on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and risks false endorsements and passing off.

The Significance

The court’s protection underscores a growing emphasis on personality and publicity rights, the right to control and profit from one’s image, name, or likeness, at a time when AI tools make imitation effortless and distribution instantaneous.

By signalling that unauthorised AI voice clones, face morphs, and derivative content can attract judicial restraint, the order adds a clear line of defence for artists concerned about reputational harm and commercial misuse.

Context: a wider wave of petitions

Recently, several public figures, including actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Hrithik Roshan; filmmaker Karan Johar; Telugu actor Akkineni Nagarjuna; “Art of Living” founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar; and journalist Sudhir Chaudhary, also sought protection of their personality and publicity rights, with the High Court granting interim relief in those matters.

What the court noted, at a glance

• Immediate relief: Interim protection of Sanu’s personality and publicity rights; takedown of objectionable content directed.
• Scope of rights claimed: Name, voice, likeness, signature, images, caricatures, and distinctive performance elements (vocal style/technique, arrangements, interpretations, mannerisms).
• Evidence flagged: Four social-media profiles identified; 334 URLs cited by the plaintiff reportedly now unavailable.
• Statutory footing: Alleged violation of moral rights under the Copyright Act.
• Monetisation risk: Alleged revenue generation via clicks/views; risk of false endorsements and passing off.

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