Has the Delhi HC protected podcaster Raj Shamani's personality rights?
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Synopsis
The Delhi High Court has granted Raj Shamani, a prominent podcaster and YouTube creator, an urgent injunction against the misuse of his identity. This landmark ruling safeguards his personality rights against unauthorized commercial exploitation, highlighting the growing issue of digital impersonation and copyright infringement in the online space.
Key Takeaways
- The Delhi High Court issued an ad-interim protection for Raj Shamani.
- Unauthorized use of his personality rights was prohibited by the court.
- The ruling addresses issues like trademark infringement and AI-generated deepfakes.
- This case sets a precedent for protecting digital creators' rights.
- The court mandated takedown of infringing content across major platforms.
New Delhi, Nov 20 (NationPress) The Delhi High Court has issued an ad-interim protection order for popular YouTuber and podcaster Raj Shamani, prohibiting various online platforms, anonymous individuals, and businesses from exploiting his name, voice, image, likeness, and trademarked podcast assets for commercial benefit.
A single-judge Bench led by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora granted this ex-parte order in response to a lawsuit filed by Shamani and his company, which sought immediate relief against issues like trademark infringement, copyright violation, impersonation, fake endorsements, AI-generated deepfakes, and unauthorized reproduction of his renowned ‘Figuring Out’ podcast series.
Shamani, recognized as one of India’s leading digital creators and the host of the highly-rated podcast ‘Figuring Out’, informed the Delhi High Court that multiple platforms, including booking sites and channels utilizing AI for deepfakes, were misusing his identity and content without permission.
His attorney emphasized Shamani’s prominence as a “known face”, with over 22.4 million followers, numerous global accolades, and partnerships with major brands.
Justice Arora acknowledged the presence of various types of infringing materials presented, including AI-generated deepfakes, false booking portals, fake endorsements from companies promoting water and supplements, Telegram bots impersonating him, and channels redistributing his copyrighted podcast segments.
The Delhi High Court affirmed that Shamani’s personality traits—his name, likeness, voice, and image—are elements deserving of protection under his personality and publicity rights.
The court stated, “Plaintiff No. 1 is entitled to seek an injunction against the use of his personality rights by third parties for their commercial gains,” highlighting that altered, fake, or inappropriate content could severely harm his reputation and goodwill.
The Delhi High Court mandated the removal of infringing content across six identified categories, including platforms like Meta, Google, YouTube, and Telegram.
According to the order, all unidentified entities (John Does) posting deepfakes, fake endorsements, or unauthorized clips must have their Basic Subscriber Information (BSI) shared with the plaintiffs by the platforms.
Additionally, the Delhi HC prohibited Defendants 1 to 5, 10, 16, 19, and 20 from “directly or indirectly misusing, misappropriating or exploiting” Shamani’s identity or trademark.
The case will move forward before the Joint Registrar for service completion and pleadings on December 24, 2025, and will return to the Bench on April 24, 2026.
Point of View
The Delhi High Court's ruling underscores the importance of protecting digital creators' rights in an era where online impersonation and unauthorized use of content are rampant. This decision is pivotal in reinforcing the legal frameworks supporting personality rights and highlights the need for stricter regulations to safeguard the identities of public figures.
NationPress
20/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the ruling of the Delhi High Court regarding Raj Shamani?
The Delhi High Court granted Raj Shamani an ad-interim protection order, preventing unauthorized use of his name, voice, and image by various online platforms and entities for commercial gain.
What kind of infringing activities were noted by the court?
The court identified various activities, including the use of AI-generated deepfakes, fake endorsements, and impersonation through booking portals and Telegram bots.
What does this ruling mean for digital creators?
This ruling establishes a precedent for protecting the personality and publicity rights of digital creators, ensuring they have legal recourse against unauthorized exploitation of their identity.
When will the case return to the court?
The case is scheduled to return to the Joint Registrar for further proceedings on December 24, 2025, and will go back to the Bench on April 24, 2026.
Why is this ruling significant?
This ruling is significant as it addresses the rising issue of digital impersonation and copyright infringement, providing legal protections for creators and their work.
