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HC passes final decree in commercial suit instituted by actor to combat unauthorised exploitation of his identity across mobile apps, online domains, poster sales and quiz books
The court granted Bachchan liberty to initiate fresh legal proceedings or seek direct enforcement against any new entity attempting to exploit his persona without permission. File pic/PTI
The Delhi High Court has permanently barred multiple individuals and entities from using legendary Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan’s name, image, voice, likeness, and unique persona for commercial gain without explicit authorisation. Delivering the judgment, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav passed a final decree in the commercial suit instituted by the actor in 2022 to combat the unauthorised exploitation of his identity across mobile apps, online domains, poster sales, and quiz books.
The ruling elevates an interim injunction originally granted in November 2022 into a binding, permanent court order. By doing so, the High Court firmly safeguarded the actor’s publicity and privacy rights under common law and intellectual property principlesreaffirming that a public figure’s persona cannot be commercialised to deceive consumers or suggest false endorsements.
Compromise with Settling Parties and Action Against Defaulters
The court arrived at its decree by balancing compromise settlements alongside summary judgments. Four named defendants—including the creator of a fake video-call appa publisher of an unauthorised quiz book, a merchandise poster seller, and a domain registrant—entered into formal settlement agreements. They surrendered their infringing assets, undertook not to misuse the actor’s identity in the future, and were discharged from monetary damages.
Against four other non-appearing defendants who failed to file written responses, the bench invoked its powers under Order VIII Rule 10 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The court observed that the unauthorised commercial use of Bachchan’s identity presented no disputed questions of fact requiring a full trial, enabling a direct decree to protect his commercial goodwill.
Dynamic Protection Extended to Anonymous Infringers
Recognising the evolving nature of digital piracy and commercial misuse, the High Court explicitly extended the scope of the permanent decree to include unknown entities and anonymous infringers, traditionally catalogued under “John Doe” (or “Ashok Kumar”) orders.
At A Glance
The Delhi High Court permanently barred multiple entities from using Amitabh Bachchan’s name, image, voice, likeness, and persona without authorisation.
The judgment finalises a commercial suit instituted by the actor in 2022 to combat the unauthorised exploitation of his identity.
Four named defendants entered into formal settlement agreements, surrendered infringing assets, and were discharged from monetary damages.
The permanent decree’s scope was extended to include unknown entities and anonymous infringers under John Doe orders.
The court granted Bachchan liberty to initiate fresh legal proceedings or seek direct enforcement against any new entity attempting to exploit his persona without permission. The benchmark decision sets a critical judicial precedent in Indian intellectual property law, granting public figures robust legal mechanisms to defend their voice, likeness, and identity from digital misrepresentation.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The Delhi High Court issued a permanent decree barring multiple individuals and entities from exploiting Amitabh Bachchan’s name, image, voice, and unique persona for commercial gain without explicit authorization. The ruling converts an earlier November 2022 interim injunction into a permanent court order to protect his publicity and privacy rights under common law and intellectual property principles.
Ask News18About the Author
Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He tra…Read More
November 07, 2026, 06:24 IST
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