Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and prominent film personality K. Pawan Kalyan has initiated a significant legal battle in the Delhi High Court to safeguard his personality and publicity rights. The court has acknowledged his plea, noting that his celebrity status grants him clear ownership over his personal image, voice, and likeness under established laws.
Major Tech and E-commerce Giants Named as Defendants
The lawsuit targets a formidable list of defendants accused of unlawfully exploiting Mr. Kalyan's persona for commercial gain. The notable parties include Flipkart Internet Pvt. Ltd., Amazon Seller Services Pvt. Ltd., Meesho Ltd., Google LLC, and Meta Platforms Inc. along with several unnamed individuals and entities. The petition alleges these parties have engaged in the unauthorized use of the celebrity's name, face, image, and voice.
Details of the Alleged Misuse
According to the interim order from the judge, the misuse manifests in two primary ways. Firstly, several defendants are allegedly profiting by directly using Mr. Kalyan's identity to endorse and sell products on their shopping platforms and applications. Secondly, in a modern twist, others are accused of integrating his personal features into Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems on their websites for business purposes or selling merchandise without seeking his prior consent.
Court Proceedings and Future Hearings
The Delhi High Court has outlined a clear timeline for the proceedings. The case is first listed for hearing before the Joint Registrar (Judicial) on February 9. Subsequently, it will come up before the court itself on May 12, 2026. As per procedural rules, the plaintiff's legal team must submit any additional documentary evidence by January 22, adhering to the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, and the Delhi High Court (Original Side) Rules, 2018.
Relief for Third Parties and Ongoing Nature of Case
In a balanced move, the court has provided a pathway for websites or parties who may be inadvertently affected by the interim order but are not primary violators. Such entities can petition the court after furnishing an undertaking that they will not disseminate any unlawful content infringing upon the plaintiff's personality rights. The court may then tailor the injunction order based on the specifics of their situation.
It is crucial to note that the details presented are based on allegations made in a legal petition during an ongoing hearing. The claims are yet to be proven, and a final verdict from the court is pending.
