High Court
Bombay high court grants interim relief to HUL in brand name row with Emami
NEW DELHI: Hindustan Unilever heaved a sigh of relief as the Bombay high court gave an interim relief in the case with Emami involving HUL's rebranding of its skin cream for men Glow & Handsome. Reportedly, Emami had claimed that it already has a cream named Glow and Handsome.
Last week, HUL rebranded its best-selling range of products Fair & Lovely to Glow & Lovely. the men's fairness range was also renamed from Fair & Lovely to Glow & Handsome. Following this, Emami had responded with a legal action against the brand for copying its brand name Glow & Handsome.
The court has asked Emami to give seven days’ prior notice before striking a legal battle on the trademark.
According to reports, justice BP Colabwalla has ordered the notice after hearing an application filed by HUL under the Trade Marks Act seeking an injunction against Emami from issuing “groundless threats” in view of the use of its trademark Glow and Handsome.
HUL in its petition also sought at least seven days clear notice before Emami can initiate any legal proceedings against the company. HUL called Emami's threats of legal action 'groundless.'
The court observed, "Prima facie it does appear that having filed its trademark application in September 2018 and subsequently on 25 June 2020 for the mark ‘GLOW & HANDSOME’, the Plaintiff (HUL)is the prior adopter of the said mark".
The court also directed Emami to give HUL seven days prior written notice before initiating legal proceedings against it and posted the matter for further hearing on July 27.
“The statements made by the defendant (Emami) do amount to a threat, however, whether they are unlawful or groundless, that is something that will have to be decided after hearing both the sides,” the court further said as reported by a leading daily.
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High Court
Bombay HC likely to protect Kartik Aaryan’s personality rights
Actor seeks Rs 15 crore damages over AI misuse, deepfakes and merch
MUMBAI: In an age where faces can be faked and voices cloned, even stardom needs legal armour. The Bombay High Court has indicated it will pass an order safeguarding the personality and publicity rights of Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan, following allegations of widespread digital misuse of his identity.
The matter, heard by Justice Sharmila U. Deshmukh, centres on a plea filed by Aaryan seeking a broad John Doe injunction against 16 defendants, including e-commerce platforms, social media intermediaries and unidentified entities. The court noted the concerns raised and said appropriate orders would be issued.
At the heart of the case lies the growing threat of artificial intelligence-driven impersonation. Aaryan’s petition flags multiple instances of deepfake content circulating across platforms such as YouTube and Instagram, where his likeness has allegedly been used to create fabricated videos, including false romantic link-ups and objectionable scenarios designed to drive engagement.
In one particularly alarming example, the actor’s legal filing cites AI-generated visuals that falsely associate him with controversial global figures, including Jeffrey Epstein. The plea argues that such content not only misleads audiences but also causes serious reputational damage.
The concerns extend beyond content to commerce. The suit alleges that unauthorised merchandise bearing Aaryan’s name and image is being sold across platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart and Redbubble, without his consent. Additionally, the actor has raised red flags over AI-powered chatbots that mimic his voice and simulate conversations, warning of potential misuse in fraudulent activities.
Aaryan’s filing underscores that he is the registered proprietor of the trademark “Kartik Aaryan”, with his name, voice and likeness carrying significant commercial value. The unauthorised use of these attributes, the plea states, leads to “immediate and irreparable harm” to his goodwill.
Seeking both preventive and punitive relief, the actor has requested a permanent injunction restraining entities from exploiting his identity in any form be it name, voice, signature or distinctive dialogue style. He has also sought damages amounting to Rs 15 crore for alleged commercial misappropriation and reputational loss.
The case highlights a larger legal and cultural moment, where the lines between reality and replication are increasingly blurred. As AI tools become more accessible, courts are now being called upon to define the boundaries of identity in the digital age, where a face may be famous, but control over it is no longer guaranteed.
