Anil Kapoor, the acclaimed Indian actor known for his roles in Bollywood hits and the award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, has achieved a significant legal victory in a New Delhi court regarding the unauthorized use of his likeness through AI.
In his court battle against 16 defendants, Kapoor secured an interim order restraining them from utilizing any aspect of his persona, including his name, image, likeness, voice, and more, for creating merchandise or ringtones without his consent or for monetary gain.
Kapoor expressed his enthusiasm for the court’s decision, considering it a progressive move that not only benefits him but also other actors. He emphasized the importance of protecting actors’ rights in the ever-evolving AI technology landscape.
This court order comes at a crucial time amid the ongoing dispute between the US writers and actors unions and the studios. Sag-Aftra and the studios are at odds over the usage of AI to generate perpetual profits from an actor’s image without permission or compensation.
Showing solidarity with the striking actors in the US, Kapoor hoped that they would receive his victory as positive news. He stressed the significance of safeguarding the rights of all actors, regardless of their popularity or stature.
Kapoor decided to take legal action in India’s high court due to the rampant circulation of distorted videos, gifs, and emojis using his likeness. He was also concerned about the appropriation of his catchphrase, “jhakaas,” popularized in the 1985 film Yudh, which loosely translates to “awesome.” All of these elements are now protected by the court order.
“This fight isn’t just about me,” Kapoor emphasized, highlighting the need for his family to have the right to protect his personality and benefit from it in the future.
The issue of digitally recreating deceased actors was brought into focus with the posthumous appearance of Peter Cushing in 2017’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The estate of Cushing approved the use of his likeness in the film.
In a March interview with The Guardian, actor Michael Douglas revealed his consideration of licensing his name and likeness, ensuring that the rights pass to his family instead of the metaverse.
Douglas further explained that given the advancements in technology, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes possible to recreate any deceased individual at any age with their voice and mannerisms, indicating his desire to retain some control over such developments.
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