The Delhi High Court has granted significant legal relief to actor and entrepreneur Vivek Oberoi by restraining him from unauthorized use of his name, image, voice and other aspects of his personality after he petitioned the court over the widespread misuse of his identity in digital platforms and commercial products. The order underlines the judiciary’s growing recognition of personality and publicity rights in the age of artificial intelligence and online impersonation.
Vivek Oberoi gets interim relief as Delhi HC bans misuse of identity proof
In a lawsuit filed in early February, Oberoi sought legal protection against various entities that were allegedly exploiting his identity without his consent through fake social media accounts, AI-generated or morphed visuals and other digital content. The Delhi High Court, headed by Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, said Oberoi’s long career and public recognition meant that his name and likeness symbolized significant goodwill and reputation worthy of legal protection.
Court order and main instructions
The court’s interim order banned unauthorized commercial or personal use of Oberoi’s identity, including his name, image, voice, likeness and signature. The injunction applies to a range of technological means, including AI tools, deepfake technology and face-morphing applications.
It also directed major online intermediaries – such as YouTube, Meta Platform and X Corp – to remove links to all infringing content within 72 hours of receiving the order. The court banned the manufacture and sale of goods such as posters or T-shirts featuring Oberoi’s personality, which were circulated without authorization for commercial gain.
The judge emphasized that failure to grant timely relief could cause irreparable damage to Oberoi’s reputation and professional standing, noting that the identity of a public figure cannot be treated as a commodity for the benefit of others without consent.
allegations in the lawsuit
In his petition, Oberoi detailed how several fake accounts were created on platforms like Instagram, misusing his name and photographs. Some of these accounts allegedly shared deepfakes or altered content, which the lawsuit describes as misleading and inappropriate. Beyond the misuse of social media, the petition cites unauthorized merchandise and online listings that commercially exploit her personality without approval.
The legal filing states that the abuse caused “extraordinary harm” to his goodwill and reputation, potentially misleading the public and diminishing his professional value as both an actor and a businessman.
