Delhi HC to pass interim order on Karan Johar's plea to protect personality rights

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday indicated that it would pass an order granting interim injunction in favour of filmmaker and producer Karan Johar seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights.

The court issued summons to several online platforms and websites on Johar’s lawsuit and asked social media intermediaries — Meta Platforms and others — to provide Basic Subscriber Information (BSI) along with IT log details.

“In the IA (Interlocutory Application), I will pass a detailed order. Injunction to be granted,” Justice Manmeet PS Arora orally indicated. The court said it would pass an interim order on several issues raised by Johar, including unauthorised sale of merchandise with his name and image, disparity and obscenity, domain name, impersonation and fake profile.

Besides protection of his personality and publicity rights, Johar had also urged the court to pass an order directing certain websites and platforms not to illegally sell merchandise, including mugs and T-shirts, bearing his name and image. He filed the suit claiming that various entities have been using his name, image, persona and likeness without his consent for monetary gains.

“I have a right to ensure that no one unauthorisedly uses my persona, face or voice,” senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, appearing for Johar, had earlier said. The right to publicity, popularly known as personality rights, is the right to protect, control and profit from one’s image, name or likeness. Johar was also represented by advocate Nizam Pasha and DS Legal law firm.