Introduction:

In a landmark judgment, the Delhi High Court has issued a dynamic injunction safeguarding the personality rights of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder of the Isha Foundation. The court restrained various rogue websites and unidentified entities from misusing his personality traits through Artificial Intelligence (AI) across any platform or medium. Justice Saurabh Banerjee, presiding over the case, recognised the unique aspects of Sadhguru’s persona—including his voice, name, signature, image, likeness, vocal articulation style, and distinctive attire—and emphasised the need to protect these attributes from unauthorised exploitation in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Plaintiff’s Arguments:

Sadhguru, represented by his legal team, contended that his personality rights were being infringed upon by various rogue websites and unknown entities employing AI technologies to replicate and modify his images, voice, and likeness for commercial gain. The plaintiff argued that such unauthorised use not only violated his intellectual property rights but also posed a significant risk to his reputation and the public’s trust in his teachings. The legal team emphasised the challenges posed by “hydra-headed” websites that, even when blocked or deleted, could resurface with minor modifications, making enforcement difficult.

Defendants’ Arguments:

The defendants, including various unnamed entities and rogue websites, did not present a unified defence. However, the court acknowledged the broader issue of AI’s potential to infringe upon personality rights, noting that the misuse of Sadhguru’s persona could lead to widespread misinformation and damage to his reputation. The court highlighted the dangers of allowing such practices to continue unchecked, especially given the ease with which AI technologies can replicate and disseminate content across digital platforms.

Court’s Judgment:

Justice Banerjee, delivering the judgment, underscored the importance of protecting personality rights in the digital age. The court observed that Sadhguru’s unique position as a trusted spiritual leader made the unauthorised use of his persona particularly damaging. It noted that the impugned content not only utilised his personality traits but also employed modern technology to modify his images, voice, and likeness for commercial purposes.

The court emphasised that allowing such practices to continue would lead to uncontrollable repercussions, likening the spread of misinformation to a pandemic. It recognised the challenges posed by rapidly developing technology and the need for effective enforcement of intellectual property rights across social platforms and the internet.

In its ruling, the court issued an ad interim injunction in favour of Sadhguru, restraining the defendants from misusing his personality traits through AI on any platform or medium. It ordered the suspension of accounts and the takedown of YouTube channels exclusively infringing upon Sadhguru’s personality rights. Additionally, the court directed that basic subscriber information of these channels be disclosed.

The court further instructed relevant authorities to issue notifications to social media platforms to block or suspend various websites, social media accounts, and channels infringing upon Sadhguru’s exclusive rights. This comprehensive approach aimed to prevent the unauthorised exploitation of his persona and protect the public from misleading content.