The Delhi High Court has granted interim protection to actor Tabu, restraining the unauthorised use of her name, image, voice and other aspects of her public persona. The protection also extends to the use of artificial intelligence, deepfakes and face-morphing technologies.
Justice Jyoti Singh passed the order on August 6, observing that the actor could face irreparable harm if immediate protection was not provided.
Court recognises Tabu’s distinctive public identity
Tabu, whose full name is Tabassum Jamal Hashmi, has built a prominent career spanning more than three decades. In its order, the court noted her reputation as an internationally recognised and critically acclaimed actor.
The court observed that the name and stage name “Tabu”, along with her image, voice, likeness and other personality characteristics, have developed a distinctive association with the actor in the public mind.
As a result, the court held that Tabu has the right to prevent third parties from commercially exploiting or misappropriating these attributes without her permission.
AI-generated content among concerns
Tabu approached the court after alleging that her personality was being exploited online without authorisation.
Her petition raised concerns about manipulated and AI-generated material, including allegedly obscene images and videos. According to her plea, some online content used altered portions of her films, interviews and public appearances.
She alleged that certain clips had been digitally edited, slowed down or zoomed in to highlight intimate portions and attract viewers.
The actor argued that such manipulated content not only exploited her identity but could also damage her reputation while allowing others to make money from her likeness.
Court issues restrictions against unauthorised exploitation
The Delhi High Court has restrained the defendants in the case from using or exploiting Tabu’s personality and publicity rights without her consent.
The restrictions cover several aspects of her identity, including:
- Her real name and stage name “Tabu”
- Her photographs and images
- Her voice and voice reproductions
- Her signature
- Movie stills and other visual representations
- Other identifiable elements associated with her persona
The order effectively prevents third parties from using these attributes for unauthorised commercial or promotional purposes.
Google, Meta, X and Reddit asked to act
The court also issued directions involving several major online platforms.
Google, Meta, X and Reddit have been directed to remove or disable access to specified URLs identified in the proceedings.
The court also directed GoDaddy to lock and suspend certain domains associated with the alleged misuse.
The directions are aimed at limiting the continued circulation and availability of content that allegedly violates Tabu’s personality and publicity rights.
Growing legal protection for celebrities
The order involving Tabu is part of a broader trend in Indian courts, where public figures have increasingly approached courts to protect their names, images and other personality attributes from unauthorised commercial use.
The issue has become particularly important with the rapid growth of AI-generated content and deepfake technology.
Actors and other celebrities can now be digitally recreated or manipulated in ways that may be difficult for ordinary users to distinguish from authentic material. Courts have consequently been asked to address the misuse of celebrity identities across social media, websites and other digital platforms.
The Delhi High Court has previously passed similar orders involving several well-known actors, highlighting the growing importance of personality rights in the digital era.
What the Tabu order means
The interim protection does not amount to a final decision on all issues raised in the lawsuit. However, it gives Tabu immediate protection while the broader legal proceedings continue.
The order also reinforces the principle that a celebrity’s name, likeness, voice and other recognisable personality attributes cannot simply be exploited by third parties without authorisation.
With AI and deepfake technology making it increasingly easy to manipulate a person’s identity, the case could have wider significance for how personality rights are protected online in India.
