The Delhi High Court has directed Meta, Google, and X to act within a week on Pawan Kalyan’s complaint over unauthorized use of his persona. The order strengthens digital personality rights and mandates the swift removal of infringing content.
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NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has issued a directive to social media platforms Meta, Google, and X, asking them to take prompt action on a complaint filed by Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan regarding alleged violations of his personality rights.
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora on Friday instructed the tech intermediaries to evaluate and act upon Kalyan’s complaints within one week. The court emphasized that the plaintiff must submit all infringing URLs and links to the platforms within two days, after which the companies are obligated to respond swiftly.
“Plaintiff to submit details of infringing links with the intermediaries within two days. Intermediaries to take action within one week. If the intermediaries have any reservations, they can communicate to the plaintiff,”
the Court stated.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on December 22.
The order comes in response to a personality rights lawsuit filed by Pawan Kalyan, who alleged that various entities across social media and e-commerce platforms have been using:
- his name,
- images,
- likeness,
- and other identifiable personality traits
for commercial gain without authorization.
Kalyan argued that such unauthorized usage violates his personality and publicity rights, and that the platforms should act more proactively in taking down infringing content.
Senior Advocate J Sai Deepak, representing Kalyan, informed the court that despite earlier communications sent to the intermediaries, based on directions laid down in the Ajay Devgn personality rights case, the responses received were insufficient. He pointed out that numerous infringing materials continue to remain online despite repeated complaints.
In response, Justice Arora clarified that once the plaintiff submits all infringing URLs, the intermediaries must respond within seven days.
“Mr Sai Deepak, we will take it up after 10 days. Let them (intermediaries) take action in the meantime,”
the judge remarked.
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