Full Breakdown
Delhi High Court Grants Interim Protection of Vijay Deverakonda’s Personality Rights, Targets AI-Generated Misuse
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Core Event: Interim Injunction Against Unauthorized Use
The Delhi High Court, presided over by Justice Vikas Mahajan, issued an interim order restraining the unauthorised exploitation of actor Vijay Deverakonda’s name, image, voice, signatures, fashion style, photographs, movie stills and performances. The order targets AI-generated deepfakes, face-morphing and other digital manipulation. Platforms named include Meta, Google and X, which must permanently remove identified infringing content.
Background & Context
Deverakonda filed the suit after encountering mobile apps, fake endorsements, impersonating accounts and merchandise that used his likeness without consent. The plea follows earlier Delhi High Court rulings that protected actors such as Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor, establishing a precedent for extending personality-right safeguards to digital media.
Scope of the Interim Protection
- Protected attributes: full name (“Vijay Deverakonda”, “Vijay Devarakonda”, “Vijay Sai Deverakonda”), initials “VD”, voice recordings, signatures, fashion style, photographs, movie stills and performances.
- Platforms ordered to act: Meta, Google and X must remove, disable access to and permanently delete the identified infringing content.
- Online marketplaces and domain registrars: Must delete specified infringing links and suspend identified domains within 72 hours of receiving the court’s copy of the order.
- Regulatory bodies: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications are directed to instruct service providers to block or remove access to the listed websites within the same 72-hour window.
- Compliance reporting: Affected entities must file affidavits confirming compliance within two weeks of the order.
- Ex-parte injunction on “Rowdy”: The court declined to prohibit the standalone use of the term “Rowdy” but barred AI-generated images of the actor combined with the term.
Official Statements & Responses
Justice Mahajan noted that Deverakonda had established a “prima facie strong case” for personality-right protection and that monetary compensation alone might not suffice.
Senior Advocate Swathi Sukumar, representing the actor, argued that unauthorized commercial exploitation and obscene AI-generated videos threaten Deverakonda’s reputation. The court issued notice to the defendants and required replies within four weeks.
Future Proceedings
Service and pleadings are to be completed before the Joint Registrar on December 3, 2026, with a substantive hearing scheduled for February 2, 2027.
Impact & Implications
The order shows the judiciary’s willingness to apply personality-right doctrines to AI-generated content, imposing strict timelines on platforms to curb deepfakes and unauthorized commercial use. It signals to public figures that legal recourse is available against technology-driven misuse of personal attributes.