In a significant legal win for Bollywood icon Salman Khan, the Delhi High Court on Thursday directed social media intermediaries to remove all content violating the actor’s personality and publicity rights within three days. The court’s directive came after Salman filed a petition seeking protection from unauthorized commercial use of his name, voice, image, and identity. This marks a crucial step in strengthening legal protections for celebrity identity in the digital era.
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora instructed the platforms to treat Salman Khan’s plea as a formal complaint under the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules and act promptly as per regulations. The court also noted that a stay order will soon be issued to address violations occurring outside social media platforms. This comprehensive approach ensures that the superstar’s rights are protected across all digital spaces.
Repeated Misuse Across Digital Platforms
Representing the actor, senior advocate Sandeep Sethi highlighted repeated misuse of Salman’s identity across digital platforms, fake news circulation, and misleading content. He further informed the court that a smartphone manufacturer has enabled the download of an app infringing on the actor’s rights. Instances of AI chatbots and e-commerce platforms misusing Salman’s persona were also presented. The unauthorized use of celebrity images and names for commercial purposes has become a growing concern in the digital age.
The court heard evidence of multiple violations, including fake endorsements, misleading advertisements, and unauthorized merchandise using Salman Khan’s likeness. These activities not only harm the actor’s reputation but also deceive consumers who believe they are engaging with officially endorsed products or services.
Joining A Growing List Of Protected Celebrities
Salman Khan now joins a growing list of Indian celebrities seeking legal safeguards over their publicity rights. Amitabh Bachchan was among the first to secure such protection in 2023, after facing widespread misuse of his name and likeness, including fake KBC lotteries and unauthorized merchandise. Playback singer Kumar Sanu also won a similar case this year, gaining protection over his voice, style, and image. These landmark judgments are setting important precedents for personality rights protection in India.
About Salman Khan
Salman Khan is one of Bollywood’s biggest superstars with a career spanning over three decades. Known for blockbuster films and his philanthropic work through Being Human Foundation, he has a massive fan following worldwide. His upcoming projects include Sikandar and Battle of Galwan. The superstar continues to be one of the most recognizable faces in Indian cinema. More official announcements about his future projects are awaited.
(Also read: Aamir Khan On Sitaare Zameen Par Success: We Have A Right To Live Our Lives, Film Teaches Equality Beyond Entertainment )
Stay tuned with us for latest news, Hindi box office news, Hollywood news, OTT news, latest Bollywood news, and latest box office news.
