The Delhi High Court is set to hear a significant plea from veteran playback singer Kumar Sanu, who is seeking legal protection for his voice, singing style, and overall artistic identity. The court will address his case on October 13.
Sanu’s petition, expertly presented by his legal counsel, outlines the pervasive issue of unauthorized use of his name, voice, singing methodology, and likeness. He contends that his personality and publicity rights are being infringed upon through the unlicensed replication of his vocal nuances and artistic persona. This includes the unauthorized use of his name, images, and signature performance style.
The singer has voiced grave concerns about the misuse of his likeness in digitally manipulated content, particularly AI-generated videos and audio that mimic his distinctive voice and appearance. He notes that these fabricated creations are being exploited for financial gain and, in some instances, for malicious or trivial purposes, such as creating jokes. The petition explicitly details the monetization of these AI-generated materials, including audios, videos, and merchandise, across popular social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
This unauthorized commercialization is viewed by Sanu as a form of false endorsement and impersonation. The legal action aims to obtain a court injunction that would legally prohibit the use of his name and creative works without explicit permission. The lawsuit points out that the revenue generated through views and clicks on these platforms directly compensates the infringers. This legal battle for personality rights is reminiscent of actions previously taken by other Bollywood luminaries such as Jackie Shroff and Karan Johar.