The Delhi High Court has granted an interim injunction to prevent the unauthorized use of journalist Rajat Sharma's image and the trademarks of his news channel, India TV.

Justice Amit Bansal passed the order in response to Sharma's legal suit, which claims the wrongful exploitation of his identity and the channel’s intellectual property for financial profit.

Sharma accused multiple individuals and organizations of promoting unverified and illegal products, including medications for joint pain, diabetes, and prostatitis, by misappropriating his image and the India TV brand. He further alleged that these entities falsely represented the products as being endorsed by reputable doctors or possessing official certifications, thereby deceiving the public.

Justice Bansal found merit in Sharma's claims: "A preliminary argument is presented against the defendants and in favour of the plaintiffs. Additionally, the balance of convenience favours the plaintiffs and disadvantages the defendant. If the defendants are permitted to keep posting the aforementioned infringing posts and videos, the plaintiffs will suffer irreparable harm."

The court's ruling includes several significant directives:

Prohibition of Unauthorized Use: The defendants are barred from using Rajat Sharma's name, image, or identity, including through artificial intelligence-generated content.

Content Removal: Websites like Meta Platforms have been ordered to remove infringing content and reveal the identities of those responsible.

Protection of Trademarks: The unauthorized use of India TV's registered trademarks for profit is strictly forbidden.

The advocate representing Sharma and India TV argued that the defendants had unlawfully violated Sharma’s personality rights, causing harm to his reputation through deceptive practices. He emphasized that AI-generated content was used to impersonate Sharma, falsely depicting him as endorsing counterfeit medical products.

The advocate also claimed that the defendants had illegally utilized copyrighted material from India TV, specifically footage from its flagship program, Aaj Ki Baat. He asserted that this included the creation of fabricated statements and edited videos, which misled viewers and damaged India TV’s credibility.

Rajat Sharma, a prominent journalist renowned for hosting influential shows like Aap Ki Adalat and Aaj Ki Baat, is a key figure in Indian media. The court’s ruling emphasizes the critical need to protect the rights of public figures and media organizations from misuse, especially in the digital age, where artificial intelligence and online platforms can be exploited.

This case underscores the importance of safeguarding personality rights and intellectual property to preserve trust and credibility in journalism and public communication.