Ankur Warikoo Vs. John Doe:May 26, 2025:CS(COMM) 514/2025:ourt: Delhi High Court:Hon'ble Mr. Justice Amit Bansal
Brief Facts: The plaintiffs, including celebrity entrepreneur and author Ankur Warikoo, allege that unknown defendants and social media platforms circulated deep fake and fabricated content falsely depicting the plaintiffs, especially Warikoo, promoting fake investment schemes and misusing his persona and trademarks. The content is malicious, unauthorized, and harms the plaintiffs' reputation and business.
Decision/Order: The Court granted interim relief, including directions to restrain defendants from illegal exploitation of the plaintiffs’ persona, images, and trademarks, and issued notices to the defendants. The Court also permitted some procedural exemptions for the plaintiffs and scheduled further proceedings. The court emphasized the need to prevent further circulation of the deep fake content and protected the plaintiffs' rights against misuse and infringement.
Law Settled: The Court reaffirmed protections under intellectual property rights, personality rights, and the importance of restraining the circulation of deep fake and defamatory content through interim measures under Indian civil procedure and relevant laws governing trademarks, personality rights, and online misconduct.
