New Delhi, May 7 (IANS) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights against the alleged misuse of his name, likeness and identity across digital platforms, including through AI-generated and morphed content.

As per the cause list published on the official website of the Delhi High Court, the matter is scheduled to be heard on Friday by a single-judge Bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna.

Tharoor has reportedly sought relief against several defendants, including unidentified persons impleaded as John Doe parties, alleging unauthorised use and commercial exploitation of his persona.

The plea is also stated to seek the removal of deepfake and AI-morphed content allegedly circulating online using his identity without consent.

The development comes amid a growing number of personality rights disputes before the Delhi High Court involving allegations of AI-generated impersonation, deepfakes, fake endorsements and unauthorised commercial exploitation of celebrity identities.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court said that it would pass an interim order protecting the personality and publicity rights of entrepreneur and Shark Tank India judge Aman Gupta in a suit alleging widespread unauthorised commercial exploitation of his identity across digital platforms.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Tushar Rao Gedela indicated that it would pass an interim order after hearing submissions made on behalf of Gupta, co-founder of electronics brand boAt Lifestyle. The suit alleged circulation of fake endorsements, AI-generated impersonations, unauthorised merchandise, fraudulent event-booking services and objectionable online content linked to Gupta’s identity.

The Shashi Tharoor case adds to a growing list of high-profile personalities invoking their personality and publicity rights before the Delhi High Court.

In recent months, former cricketer and current head coach Gautam Gambhir, former cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, actors Arjun Kapoor, Allu Arjun, Nagarjuna, Kajol, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Abhishek Bachchan, singer Jubin Nautiyal, filmmaker Karan Johar, and podcaster Raj Shamani have secured court protection against the unauthorised use of their identity, likeness, or AI-generated imitations.

–IANS

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