Introduction:

Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff has initiated legal proceedings before the Delhi High Court to safeguard his personality and publicity rights. The suit targets various entities accused of exploiting Shroff’s name, photographs, voice, and the popular term “Bhidu” without his consent. Justice Sanjeev Narula presided over the hearing and issued summons to the defendant entities. The court will reconvene to consider issuing an interim order.

Arguments:

Advocate Pravin Anand, representing Shroff, argued that the defendant entities violated the actor’s personality and publicity rights by unlawfully using his identity for commercial purposes. Anand cited precedents where the personality rights of actors like Anil Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan were upheld by the court. He highlighted instances where Shroff’s registered trademark “Bhidu” was misused, such as a restaurant operating under the same name. Anand emphasized the need to protect personality rights, especially in cases where defendants engaged in commercial activities using Shroff’s images without permission or license.

Anand pointed out the prevalence of unauthorized use of Shroff’s images and voice in various merchandise, including T-shirts, posters, and mugs. He argued that such actions amounted to counterfeiting and infringed upon Shroff’s rights. Additionally, Anand raised concerns about the defamatory content circulated through memes and videos using Shroff’s likeness and voice.

Court’s Judgement:

The court acknowledged the significance of protecting personality rights and preventing unauthorized commercial exploitation of an individual’s identity. Justice Narula indicated a willingness to intervene to safeguard Shroff’s rights and issued summons to the defendant entities. The court’s decision to consider issuing an interim order underscores the urgency of addressing the alleged violations and providing relief to Shroff.