New Delhi, July 9 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said it will pass an interim order protecting the personality and publicity rights of cricketer Abhishek Sharma in a suit seeking the removal of alleged unauthorised and objectionable online content that misuses his identity across digital platforms.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Jyoti Singh issued summons in the suit and indicated that interim directions would be passed to remove and take down the infringing links identified by the plaintiff.

Appearing for Sharma, counsel submitted that an additional affidavit had been filed placing on record URLs that continue to host the allegedly infringing content.

The counsel informed the Delhi High Court that, while several posts had already been removed following complaints, two Facebook and Instagram posts, along with another containing abusive and profane content, were still available online.

It was further submitted that various listings on e-commerce platforms Amazon and Flipkart were commercially exploiting Sharma’s likeness without his authorisation and also required to be taken down.

Appearing for Meta, counsel submitted that the two identified posts on Facebook and Instagram would be removed. Counsel appearing for Amazon also informed the Delhi High Court that, subject to a judicial order, the e-commerce platform would take down the infringing URLs.

Recording the submissions, Justice Singh said that appropriate interim directions would be issued to remove the infringing links and listed the matter for further hearing on November 17.

Sharma has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights against the alleged unauthorised use of his name, likeness, image and identity across digital platforms.

The Abhishek Sharma 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 India captain Sunil Gavaskar, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, actors Arjun Kapoor, Allu Arjun, Nagarjuna, Varun Dhawan, Kajol, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan, singer Jubin Nautiyal, filmmaker Karan Johar, podcaster Raj Shamani, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and actor Ravi Kishan have secured or sought court protection against the unauthorised use of their identity, likeness, or AI-generated imitations.

–IANS

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