High Court
Kannada govt sets up panel to look into local cinema policy
BANGALORE: Karnataka government has proposed to the agitating Kannada Film Producers Association (KFPA) and Kannada Film Directors Association (KFDA) to set up a panel including nominees from their organisations in order to recommend a comprehensive cinema policy for the State.
Responding to the deputy chief minister’s suggestion, KFPA and KFDA have chosen 11 members to be nominated for the proposed panel.
The nominees include Parvathamma Rajkumar, Ramu, Kanakapura Srinivas, K Manju, Ramesh Yadav, Basant Kumar Patil, actors Ravichandra and Raghavendra Rajkumar and directors Joe Simon and S V Rajendrasingh Babu.
Deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah who announced the decision at the rally organised by KFPA and KFDA yesterday, also promised that the recommendations would be implemented within ten days of the submission of the report.
Meanwhile, KFPA has decided not to allow the release of non-Kannada films (that includes English films) for seven weeks from the date of their first release elsewhere in the country beginning 13 August. The organisation has also demanded a 100-per cent hike in the entertainment tax for non-Kannada films.
Some of the other important demands made by the KFPA and KFDA include:
(1) All Kannada films must be shown in all theaters in Karnataka for at least 12 weeks a year.
(2) Abolition of show tax and turnover tax on exhibition of Kannada Films.
(3) Single window system for permission for filming.
KFPA claims that its decision of not allowing the release of non-Kannada films including English for seven weeks is in compliance with a 1996 agreement between the government and the exhibitors but is yet to be implemented.
Senior Kannada actor Dr Raaj Kumar addressed the rally. Prominent artistes including Vishnuvardhan, Ambarish, Upendra, Darshan, Ramesh, Bharati and Tara were conspicuous by their absence.
High Court
Bombay High Court questions AI celebrity deepfakes in Shilpa Shetty case
Justice questions legality of unconsented AI personas, platforms directed to respond.
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court just put AI on the witness stand because when a chatbot starts chatting as Shilpa Shetty without asking, even the bench wants to know who gave permission. The Bombay High Court on Wednesday expressed serious concerns over the legality of artificial intelligence tools that simulate celebrity personalities without consent, during a personality rights suit filed by actor Shilpa Shetty.
Justice Sharmila Deshmukh, hearing the matter, questioned platforms that allow users to interact with AI-generated versions of actors without authorisation. The court noted that one accused AI chatbot website continued using Shetty’s personality without permission, prompting the judge to ask about the legal basis for such operations.
When the lawyer for the AI company argued that the system relied on algorithms and did not require celebrity consent, Justice Deshmukh challenged the platform’s right to recreate and make public a person’s identity in this manner. She observed that while users uploading photographs raised one set of issues, AI systems generating content based on recognised personalities posed distinct legal and ethical questions especially when the platform itself acknowledged the content was not real.
The court directed the platform to file a detailed response explaining its position.
The case involves Shetty seeking restrictions on more than 30 platforms including e-commerce websites and AI services accused of hosting or enabling misuse of her image and circulation of deepfake content.
The Bench also raised concerns about Youtube commentary videos discussing the ongoing proceedings involving Shetty and her husband, questioning whether unverified discussions could malign parties without journalistic checks.
Counsel for Google, Tenor and the AI entity informed the court that flagged infringing URLs had been removed. Shetty’s team disputed this, leading the court to allow her to file an application alleging non-compliance if links remained active.
Tenor objected to the broad injunction sought, arguing it functions as an intermediary GIF platform without capacity for proactive monitoring. The court directed Tenor to file an affidavit opposing the order.
E-commerce platforms including Amazon stated they had removed unauthorised listings using Shetty’s name and image, and would continue to act on specific notifications.
The court reiterated that directions for intermediaries would operate on a “take-down on notice” basis, requiring removal of infringing content once flagged.
As deepfakes blur the line between real and rendered, the Bombay High Court isn’t just hearing a case, it’s asking the bigger question: in the age of AI avatars, who really owns your face?
