Delhi HC Grants Dynamic Injunction Protecting Sadhguru’s Personality Rights Against AI Deepfakes, Commercial Misuse [Read Order]

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has delivered a landmark judgment granting a ‘dynamic+’ injunction to protect spiritual leader Sadhguru Jagadish Vasudev and the Isha Foundation against the unauthorized use of his personality rights through AI-generated deepfakes and commercial exploitation by rogue websites.

Justice Saurabh Banerjee issued comprehensive directions aimed at preventing the misuse of Sadhguru’s name, image, voice, and likeness across various digital platforms, recognizing the unique challenges posed by modern technology and artificial intelligence.

The court addressed the case involving Sadhguru Jagadish Vasudev and Isha Foundation as plaintiffs against 48 defendants, including rogue websites, social media platforms, and government departments. The court noted, “The plaintiffs are asking for safeguarding the personality rights of Sadhguru/plaintiff no.1, especially when the use thereof is by an unknown third party with whom neither of the plaintiffs have any connection or association.”

Addressing the specific nature of the infringement, the court observed, “The impugned content is aimed at perpetuating a financial scam by initiating commercial transactions and/or promoting and selling purported services for gaining traction on social media through AI-generated motivational and inspirational talks/speeches purported to be originating from plaintiff no.1.”

The court highlighted the sophisticated methods employed by the defendants, stating, “The primary defendants have gone a step further and employed modern-day technology to modify the images, voice, likeness, videos, etc., for commercial gains, and pertinently, the primary defendants’ mala fide intent is revealed from their conduct.”

In granting the dynamic injunction, the court emphasized the urgency of the matter, noting, “If allowed to continue, it will soon spread like a pandemic with wide, uncontrollable repercussions, especially since the social media platforms involved here happen to be internet portals.”

The court specifically directed that defendants nos. 1-41 and 48 are “injuncted from using or exploiting plaintiff no. 1’s name, image, likeness, voice, and any other aspects of his persona, which are solely and exclusively associated and identified with him, for any commercial and/or personal gain or in any manner whatsoever without plaintiff no. 1’s express written authorization, including through the use of any technology such as Artificial Intelligence.”

It also issued specific directions to major platforms, including domain registrars, Twitter/X, Instagram, and YouTube, to suspend or disable infringing accounts and disclose user information of the violators.

Recognizing Sadhguru’s global stature, the court noted, “Plaintiff no.1 is a known person/personality and not a fly-by-night operator who, as per the pleadings made herein, needs, if not due credit, then at least protection for who he is, especially given what is transpiring now.”

The court emphasized the broader implications, stating, “Given plaintiff no. 1’s unique position as a trusted source for spiritual guidance worldwide, any misrepresentation of his endorsement risks irreparable damage not only to his personal reputation but also to public trust at large.”

The defendants were found to be operating various schemes, including financial scams using fake news reports, product endorsements for health supplements, and unauthorized spiritual content creation using AI-generated voices and images.

Mr. Srikrishna Rajagopal, Ms. Disha Sharma, Ms. Deepika Pokharia, Mr. Angad Makkar, and Mr. Pushpet Ghosh, Advocates, appeared for the plaintiffs, while Ms. Mamta R. Jha, Mr. Rohan Ahuja, Ms. Shruttima Ehersa, Mr. Rahul Choudhary, Ms. Himani Sachdeva, Mr. Sandeep Kumar Mahapatra, and Mr. Tribhuvan, Advocates, appeared for the defendants.

Case Title: Sadhguru Jagadish Vasudev & Anr. vs. Igor Isakov & Ors.

[Read Order]