Veteran playback singer Kumar Sanu has filed a petition before the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights. the plea, listed for hearing on October 13 before Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, aims to safeguard the singer’s distinctive voice, singing style, likeness, and mannerisms from unauthorised commercial exploitation.
in his petition, sanu has raised concerns over the misuse of his name, voice, and persona through artificial intelligence technologies, digital cloning, gifs, and merchandise. he alleges that such unauthorized use distorts his artistic identity and creates confusion among the public, thereby violating his moral rights under section 38b of the copyright act, 1957.
the singer is represented by advocates shikha sachdeva and sana raees khan. the plea seeks judicial intervention to prevent third parties from using sanu’s persona without consent, especially in ai-generated performances and recordings that may bring disrepute or subject him to unsavoury humour.
the case marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate around digital rights and the ethical use of artificial intelligence in entertainment. it also highlights the growing need for legal frameworks to protect artists from unauthorized replication and commercial misuse of their identity.
