Legendary singer Kumar Sanu has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his voice, name, and image from AI misuse and deepfakes, marking a crucial legal fight for artists’ personality and publicity rights in India.
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NEW DELHI: In the growing tension between technology and creativity, singer Kumar Sanu has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights. His plea comes amid rising concerns over the unauthorised use of celebrity voices and likenesses by AI platforms.
What the Case Is About
The case, listed to be heard by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora on October 13, aims to secure an injunction against platforms and individuals using artificial intelligence to clone Sanu’s voice and persona.
Filed through advocates Shikha Sachdeva and Sana Raees Khan, Sanu’s petition seeks comprehensive protection for his:
- Name and voice
- Vocal style and singing technique
- Vocal arrangements and interpretations
- Mannerisms and performance style
- Images, caricatures, and likenesses
- Signature and photographs
According to the plea, several online platforms are allegedly exploiting his identity by creating and sharing AI-generated songs, GIFs, and videos that mimic his iconic singing style, without his consent.
The Legal Basis
Sanu’s legal team argues that these acts violate his personality and publicity rights, as well as his moral rights under the Copyright Act. Moral rights protect an artist’s right to the integrity and attribution of their work, meaning no one can distort or misuse their creative output in ways that harm their reputation.
The plea highlights that some AI-generated or morphed content has subjected Sanu to “unsavoury humour” and ridicule, damaging his public image. Furthermore, such content is often monetized by third parties through social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, which generate revenue from views and engagement.
The Core Issue
Sanu’s petition stresses that these AI-generated videos and audio clips:
- They are commercially exploited without his permission.
- Create confusion and deception among audiences.
- Lead to false endorsements or impressions that Sanu has approved or collaborated on the AI-generated content.
He has therefore requested the court to issue an injunction against such misuse and to restrain platforms and individuals from replicating or monetizing his distinctive voice, image, and persona.