Manoj Bajpayee moves Delhi High Court over alleged misuse of image, voice and AI-generated identity
Bollywood

Manoj Bajpayee Takes Legal Action to Block Unauthorized AI Voice and Image Misuse

The acclaimed actor has petitioned the Delhi High Court to safeguard his personality rights against digital cloning and fake brand endorsements.

By Nina BrooksPublished Updated 1 min read

Bollywood heavy-hitter Manoj Bajpayee is drawing a firm line in the sand to protect his face, voice, and personal brand from high-tech digital hijacking. The acclaimed 57-year-old actor has taken legal action in the Delhi High Court, seeking urgent court intervention to protect his personality rights against unauthorized commercial use and artificial intelligence exploits. The court proceedings began on Monday before Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, where legal representatives argued that multiple entities have illegally capitalized on the actor's fame. Legal filings outline clear instances where Bajpayee's distinctive likeness and audio were exploited without his knowledge or written permission.

One major claim highlights commercial misrepresentation by a design firm. According to court details presented by Senior Advocate Swathi Sukumar, an entity named H2PG Designs Private Limited allegedly used photographs of Bajpayee without authorization. The filings state that the images were presented in a misleading fashion to suggest the award-winning performer was actively modeling or endorsing suits manufactured by the brand. However, the threat extends beyond deceptive online ad campaigns. Another named defendant in the filings allegedly used advanced artificial intelligence tools to clone and reproduce the actor's iconic voice. The legal petition takes direct aim at deepfake audio generators, claiming that unauthorized parties are attempting to monetize his vocal cadence and performance style.

What personality rights is Manoj Bajpayee trying to protect?

Bajpayee is seeking wide-reaching judicial orders to shield his name, voice, image, and overall persona from unauthorized commercial exploitation. The petition specifically requests protection against AI chatbots and interactive software tools that harvest identifiable aspects of his celebrity persona to engage with consumers. During Monday's initial hearing, the presiding judge brought up questions regarding territorial jurisdiction and where the case ought to be heard. Despite the jurisdictional considerations raised by Justice Kaurav, the legal team continues to push for full legal protection of Bajpayee's publicity rights in an era dominated by rapid AI advancements.

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People also ask

Why did Manoj Bajpayee go to court?
Manoj Bajpayee filed a lawsuit in the Delhi High Court to stop companies from using AI to copy his voice and using his photos without permission for commercial ads.
Which entities were named in Manoj Bajpayee's legal action?
Court filings named H2PG Designs Private Limited for allegedly misusing his photos to promote suits, alongside another entity accused of using AI to recreate his voice.