Delhi High Court Signals Interim Protection for Mohanlal’s Personality Rights, Directs Filing of Infringing Links on Record

Delhi High Court Signals Interim Protection for Mohanlal’s Personality Rights, Directs Filing of Infringing Links on Record

Introduction

The Delhi High Court has indicated that it will grant interim protection in favour of Mohanlal in his personality rights suit concerning alleged large-scale online misuse of his image, likeness, and identity. The Court, however, directed that the allegedly infringing material first be formally placed on record before any operative interim directions are issued.

Factual Background

Mohanlal approached the Court alleging widespread unauthorised use of his personality across digital platforms. The alleged violations include sale of unauthorised merchandise, fake endorsements, AI-generated content, voice-cloning tools, deepfake-style misuse, and misleading promotional schemes promising financial gains by using his likeness.

It was further submitted that the misuse extended to deceptive advertisements and fraudulent online promotions that falsely suggested association or endorsement by the actor.

Procedural Background

The matter returned before the High Court after the Court had earlier permitted withdrawal of the actor’s previous interim application with liberty to file a fresh and more detailed plea. In the present proceedings, Justice Jyoti Singh allowed the plaintiff’s request to implead additional parties and directed circulation of a compilation of the offending links to all defendants.

Issues

1. Whether interim protection should be granted to restrain misuse of the actor’s personality rights.

2. Whether the plaintiff has sufficiently identified the infringing links and offending content.

3. Whether additional defendants are required to be impleaded for effective enforcement of takedown directions.

Contentions of the Parties

The plaintiff contended that there is large-scale unauthorised commercial exploitation of his name, likeness, and persona through multiple forms of digital misuse, including merchandise, fake endorsements, AI content, and deceptive schemes. It was argued that immediate judicial protection is necessary to prevent continuing reputational and commercial harm.

The Court was informed that a detailed compilation of offending links and infringing material would be circulated to all defendants to facilitate effective adjudication and enforcement.

Reasoning and Analysis

The Court indicated that it was inclined to grant interim protection, thereby recognising the seriousness of the alleged misuse of the actor’s personality rights. However, it emphasised that enforceable relief, especially in the context of online takedowns, requires the plaintiff to specifically place the infringing material on record and circulate the relevant URLs and links to all concerned defendants.

The Court also allowed addition of further parties to ensure that all entities responsible for hosting, distributing, or monetising the offending content are before the Court. This procedural step was considered necessary for effective enforcement of any eventual interim directions.

Decision

The Court has indicated that interim orders protecting Mohanlal’s personality rights will be passed after examining the offending material and hearing the parties. The matter is presently pending for further consideration.