High Court
Court allows ESS to telecast India cricket highlights
NEW DELHI / MUMBAI: In what could be termed a minor victory for ESPN-Star Sports, the Delhi High Court today allowed highlights of the cricket matches between West Indies and India to be aired on ESPN and Star Sports in India.
According to an official release issued by ESPN India: “By its order, following a detailed hearing today, a specially constituted division bench of the Delhi High Court hearing the appeal stayed the operation of the order of a single judge of the Delhi High Court dated October 11, 2002 which had injuncted TWI/ Stracon from telecasting the highlights of the BCCI cricket matches in India through ESPN and STAR Sports channels in India.”
Doordarshan, (which has the exclusive rights to telecast the cricket matches as per an agreement with BCCI), along with MEN had moved the court seeking a stay on airing of highlights of cricket matches on ESPN and Star Sports.
The ESPN statement further said: “The highlights of the second Test (being played in Chennai) will be aired from today onwards at 8:00 pm on Star Sports and 11:30 pm on ESPN.”
ESPN STAR Sports had earlier announced the acquisition of telecast rights to feature comprehensive daily highlights of all international cricket played in India till September 2004. Starting with the first test of the India-West Indies series on 9 October, both ESPN and Star Sports had started showcasing the India cricket highlights, including a comprehensive analysis of all international cricket played in India, at prime time on a daily basis.
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.
