What Did the Delhi HC Rule on Salman Khan’s Personality Rights?
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Synopsis
In a landmark decision, the Delhi High Court has ordered the removal of unauthorized content infringing upon Salman Khan's personality rights within three days. This ruling highlights the ongoing battle celebrities face to protect their identities in the digital age. Join us as we explore the implications of this significant legal victory.
Key Takeaways
- Delhi High Court orders removal of unauthorized content.
- Salman Khan highlights the importance of personality rights.
- Legal protections for public figures are increasingly vital.
- The ruling serves as a warning against misuse of celebrity identities.
- Other celebrities may follow suit in seeking similar protections.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (NationPress) In a significant legal victory for Bollywood icon Salman Khan, the Delhi High Court has mandated that social media platforms must eliminate all infringing content, including deceptive news, within a period of three days. This ruling is aimed at protecting the actor's personality and publicity rights.
In his plea to the High Court, Salman Khan asserted that his name, identity, and voice should not be commercially exploited without his explicit consent.
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora instructed the social media platforms to regard the petition from Salman Khan as a formal complaint and to comply with the order within three days, as outlined by legal regulations.
Salman Khan filed this complaint under the Information Technology (Intermediaries) Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules.
The court has indicated that it will soon issue a stay order concerning platforms outside of social media that infringe on the actor's personality and publicity rights.
During the proceedings, Sandeep Sethi, representing Salman Khan, highlighted the ongoing violations of his personality rights on social media, including the rise of misleading information.
Additionally, the actor's lawyer pointed out that a mobile manufacturer has permitted the download of an application that encroaches upon Salman Khan's rights.
He also brought attention to the misuse of Salman Khan's name and likeness by AI chatbots and e-commerce platforms.
Salman Khan joins a growing list of celebrities advocating for legal safeguards for their personality and publicity rights.
Among the pioneers in this movement is Amitabh Bachchan, who successfully secured a court order in 2023 restricting unauthorized use of his name, voice, and image.
Bachchan's legal action addressed fraudulent 'Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC)' lottery scams, app developers misusing his likeness, and various businesses exploiting his persona.
The Delhi High Court was informed that infringers had unlawfully registered web domain names like www.amitabhbachchan.com and www.amitabhbachchan.in.
In October of this year, Kumar Sanu successfully defended his personality rights following a legal battle.
On his Instagram, the singer shared a photo with his attorney, Sana Raees Khan, wearing a shirt that read, “Follow your own path”.
He expressed his deep appreciation for her “masterful arguments” that led to his courtroom triumph.
Sanu stated, “I am incredibly thankful to my advocate, Sana Raees Khan, for her compelling and skilled arguments that resulted in this important victory in court. My sincere gratitude goes to the Delhi High Court for acknowledging and defending my Personality Rights.”
In October 2025, Kumar Sanu filed a petition with the Delhi High Court to safeguard his “personality and publicity rights,” which encompass his name, voice, vocal style, mannerisms, images, caricatures, likeness, and signature.
Point of View
We at NationPress believe that the Delhi High Court's ruling underscores the urgent need for robust legal protections for personalities in the digital age. This decision not only safeguards Salman Khan's rights but also highlights the broader issue of unauthorized exploitation of public figures. It is an important step towards ensuring respect for individual identity and commercial integrity.
NationPress
11/12/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What are personality rights?
Personality rights are legal rights that protect an individual's name, image, likeness, and voice from unauthorized commercial exploitation.
Why did Salman Khan file a complaint?
Salman Khan filed a complaint to prevent the unauthorized commercial use of his identity and to combat the spread of fake news associated with his name.
What does the Delhi High Court ruling entail?
The ruling requires social media platforms to remove all infringing content within three days and recognizes the importance of protecting celebrity personality rights.
How does this ruling affect other celebrities?
This ruling sets a precedent that may empower other celebrities to seek similar legal protections for their personality rights.
What implications does this have for social media platforms?
Social media platforms will need to enhance their policies and measures to comply with legal demands regarding the protection of personality rights.
