Samantha Ruth Prabhu Scores Legal Victory: Bombay High Court Protects Her Name, Image, and Voice from Unauthorized AI Use

Samantha Ruth Prabhu has achieved a significant legal victory in her ongoing battle against the unauthorized use of her identity online. The Bombay High Court granted her interim protection, prohibiting AI platforms, e-commerce sites, and digital media companies from using her name, image, and voice without her consent. Additionally, the court has ordered the removal of any unauthorized content featuring the actress.

Court’s Findings on Personality Rights

During the hearing, Justice Madhav Jamdar examined the suit concerning personality rights. He noted that the evidence presented indicated a clear infringement of Samantha’s personality and publicity rights through non-consensual AI-generated deepfakes and altered content. The judge emphasized the importance of these rights, stating, “The plaintiff’s personality rights and publicity rights are protected by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India, that is, the right to freedom of speech and expression, as also by Article 21 of the Constitution of India, that is, the right to life and personal liberty, including the right to privacy and the right to human dignity, and her moral rights as a performer are separately protected under Section 38B of the Copyright Act.”

Samantha’s legal action targets a wide range of defendants, including unknown infringers, technology platforms, AI developers, digital media companies, and e-commerce entities. In total, there are 18 defendants, which also include government bodies. She sought various forms of relief, including permanent injunctions, content takedowns, and damages, as well as a John Doe order to address infringers whose identities are not yet known.

Legal Framework and Jurisdiction

In her legal approach, Samantha invoked Section 62 of the Copyright Act, 1957, regarding jurisdiction. Her claim about performers’ moral rights falls under Section 38B of the same Act. The court granted her leave under Clause XII of the Letters Patent on August 28, allowing the Bombay High Court to hear the case despite some defendants and actions lying outside its usual territorial limits. Samantha explained that her business and goodwill are based in Mumbai, but many of the alleged infringing activities by non-resident defendants extend beyond the court’s local jurisdiction.

The court’s decision to grant ad-interim relief includes the removal of the offending content and a prohibition on any further unauthorized use of her name, image, and voice. The case is scheduled for its next hearing on December 10.

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