Madras High Court Grants Interim Protection to Ilaiyaraaja’s Personality Rights

The Madras High Court has restrained digital platforms from using music director Ilaiyaraaja’s image, name, photographs, AI-generated visuals, memes, or any identifiable attributes without consent. 

The Court held that Ilaiyaraaja made a prima facie case of unauthorised commercial exploitation, noting widespread use of his likeness through morphed visuals, AI-fabricated depictions, reels, and misleading edits paired with his music.

Relying on personality-rights precedents and concerns over deepfake-style exploitation, the Court granted an interim injunction and directed the defendants to file their responses by December 19.

[Dr. Ilaiyaraaja V Ashok Kumar]