The Delhi High Court has passed a significant order safeguarding the personality and publicity rights of spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder of the Isha Foundation. The court has restrained a number of rogue websites and unidentified entities from misusing his personality traits, especially through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across any digital medium or platform.
The interim order was issued ex-parte by Justice Saurabh Banerjee, who noted that the balance of convenience favored granting relief to the plaintiff, Sadhguru. The court recognised the urgency and irreparable harm that could be caused if such misuse was allowed to continue unchecked. The court issued a 'dynamic+' injunction in favour of Sadhguru — a modern legal remedy increasingly granted in cases of online infringement. Such injunctions are designed to effectively protect the rights of individuals or entities against the constantly evolving nature of digital and AI-driven violations.
In his order, Justice Banerjee observed, “The position of law, as it has evolved, reflects that the rights of a plaintiff cannot be rendered meaningless in today’s world of rapidly advancing technology. Enforcement of intellectual property rights must be visible and effective, whether on the internet, on social media, or in the real world.”
The court acknowledged Sadhguru’s distinct personality, which includes his voice, name, signature, image, likeness, manner of articulation, style of speaking, and his recognizable attire and appearance. These elements, the judge noted, constitute his personality rights, which were being misused not only through imitation but also via AI-powered alterations and deepfakes.
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Justice Banerjee further emphasised the urgency of intervention, “If such misuse is allowed to continue, it could spread uncontrollably across social media, much like a pandemic, especially when the infringing content circulates through internet portals. Without intervention, such misleading content could go viral, with little recourse available to stop its spread.”
Accordingly, the court ordered the immediate suspension of the infringing YouTube channels and the removal of content that violated Sadhguru’s rights. It also directed that basic subscriber information of the offending channels be disclosed to facilitate further legal action.
In a broader move, the court instructed the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to issue necessary notifications or directives to social media platforms. These instructions aim to block or suspend the rogue websites and accounts that were infringing upon Sadhguru’s exclusive rights.
The court warned that in today’s digital age, intellectual property rights holders like Sadhguru are especially vulnerable to violations from ‘rogue websites’. These platforms, it said, are often hidden behind layers of digital anonymity and privacy protections, making enforcement challenging.
Justice Banerjee added, “Such 'hydra-headed' websites, even if blocked or removed, often reappear in different forms, such as alphanumeric or mirror sites, with slight mechanical changes. They pose a serious risk and make enforcement of legal rights increasingly complex.” Recognising the severity of the issue, the court formally issued a notice in Sadhguru’s suit and scheduled the next hearing for October 14.
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