The Delhi High Court has granted protection to actor NTR's personality and publicity rights, restraining unauthorised commercial use of his name, image, and likeness. The court's intervention follows a petition filed by NTR citing widespread misuse of his identity across platforms. The protection covers popular identifiers like "NTR", "Jr. NTR", "Tarak", and his sobriquets "Man of Masses" and "Young Tiger". The court directed that any unauthorised use must be removed in accordance with applicable laws.
NTR has acquired celebrity status in India, gaining immense goodwill and reputation through his successful career. His name, image, and likeness are uniquely associated with him, entitling him to proprietary rights over his personality and associated attributes. The court recognised that personality and publicity rights are integral to the right to life and freedom under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India, enforceable through the Copyright Act, 1957, and the Trade Marks Act, 1999.
Intermediary platforms must treat the plaint as a statutory complaint and act on identified infringing links within prescribed timelines. The order underscores the importance of safeguarding individual identity and reputation in the digital era.
The court restrained unidentified entities from misappropriating or exploiting NTR's personality and publicity rights through merchandise, digital content, or AI generated content. Any misuse or misrepresentation harming his reputation will attract severe legal consequences.