Indian actor Anil Kapoor wins court battle over AI use of his likeness

Indian actor Anil Kapoor, known for his roles in Bollywood films and the Oscar-winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire," has secured a significant legal victory in a New Delhi court concerning the unauthorized use of his likeness through artificial intelligence (AI).

The court issued an interim order against 16 defendants, restraining them "from in any manner utilizing Anil Kapoor's name, likeness, image, voice, or any other aspect of his persona to create any merchandise, ringtones ... either for monetary gain or otherwise."

Kapoor praised the decision as progressive and suggested it would benefit other actors facing similar challenges due to the evolving technology of AI.

This development comes at a crucial time in the ongoing dispute between US writers and actors unions and the entities representing studios. A contentious issue in this conflict is the use of AI to profit from an actor's image indefinitely, without their consent or compensation.

Kapoor expressed solidarity with striking actors in the US and hoped they would see his victory as positive news for their cause. He emphasized that every actor, regardless of popularity, deserves the right to protect their image and personality.

The actor decided to pursue his case in India's high court in response to numerous distorted videos, gifs, and emojis that utilized his likeness. He also sought to safeguard his catchphrase, "jhakaas," from unauthorized use. Kapoor stressed that his efforts were not only for his benefit but also for the future protection of his personality rights by his family.

The ethical implications of digitally recreating deceased actors have been a topic of discussion in the entertainment industry. Kapoor's legal victory adds to the ongoing conversation about the control and protection of actors' likenesses in the digital age.

Kapoor's case underscores the growing importance of addressing legal and ethical considerations surrounding AI-generated content, especially when it involves the likeness and intellectual property of individuals, both living and deceased.