Anil Kapoor Secures Historic Legal Victory Over Artificial Intelligence

Renowned Indian actor Anil Kapoor has achieved a landmark legal victory in his battle against artificial intelligence (AI), as detailed in a report by Variety.

Taking proactive measures, the Slumdog Millionaire star initiated legal proceedings through his lawyer, Ameet Naik, in the Delhi High Court to safeguard his personality rights. These encompass his name, image, likeness, voice, and other facets of his identity to prevent any form of misuse, especially in the digital realm.

The lawsuit cited multiple instances of unauthorized exploitation of his attributes. Following a thorough deliberation, the court issued an order acknowledging Kapoor’s personality rights and prohibiting any unauthorized use of his persona in any capacity.

This significant court ruling extends the protection of the actor’s rights globally, across all forms of media.

Expressing his contentment with the court’s decision, Kapoor conveyed to Variety, “I’m very pleased with this court order, which is in my favor. I believe it’s a forward-thinking and positive development, benefiting not only me but also other actors.”

Kapoor emphasized the importance of such protection in the era of advancing AI technology, which could potentially exploit an individual’s image, voice, or other attributes for commercial purposes.

The impetus for this legal action stemmed from the proliferation of manipulated videos and emojis featuring Kapoor’s likeness, along with his iconic phrase “jhakaas,” which he first popularized in the 1985 film Yudh. This court order now extends protection to this phrase, roughly translating to ‘awesome’ or ‘wicked.’

Kapoor clarified that this initiative extends beyond his personal interests, stating, “It’s not just about me. Today, I am here to protect myself, but in the future, my family should have the right to safeguard my [personality] and benefit from it.”

Addressing concerns about freedom of expression, Kapoor underscored, “My intention is not to infringe upon anyone’s freedom of expression or impose penalties.” He stressed the need to protect personality rights in the face of technological advancements like artificial intelligence.

The issue of AI is a central theme in the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, and Kapoor, represented by David Unger at Artist International Group in Hollywood, expressed his solidarity with fellow actors. He hopes that this court order serves as encouraging news for all actors, emphasizing that every actor deserves protection and the preservation of their rights.

Fresh from the Toronto Film Festival, where his film “Thank You for Coming” received a grand screening, Kapoor shared his experiences of the event. He lauded the vibrant display of Indian cinema and expressed gratitude for the warm reception it received.