Delhi High Court Orders Takedown Of Deepfake Content Misusing YouTuber Bhuvan Bam's Personality Rights

The Delhi High Court has passed a john doe order directing take down of deepfake content misusing the personality rights of YouTuber Bhuvan Bam.

Justice Jyoti Singh passed the order while hearing a suit filed by Bam against various entities, including john does, e-commerce platforms and social media intermediaries.

Bam filed a fresh application alleging that despite an order passed on January 13 protecting his personality rights, his personality traits were still being exploited unauthorizedly across various online platforms including deepfake and infringing videos as also infringing commercial listings on e-commerce websites.

Granting him relief, the Court ruled that Bam had established a prima facie case and balance of convenience also lied in his favour.

It added that in case the injunction sought is not granted, irreparable harm shall be caused to him as also to innocent members of the public.

“Defendant No. 10/John Doe is further restrained till the next date of hearing from creating, publishing, communicating, posting, offering for sale, disseminating, circulating or otherwise exploiting any content, merchandise, publication or digital material that infringes Plaintiff No.1's personality/publicity rights and/or Plaintiffs' rights in registered trademarks and copyright,” the Court directed.

It ordered Google LLC to take down specified YouTube URLs. Flipkart and other e-commerce platforms have been ordered to remove listings of infringing merchandise.

Additionally, Spotify is directed to remove certain playlists or shows and Meta has to take down Instagram content.

Justice Singh noted the objections raised by some of the defendants claiming parody exceptions, stating that the issue would be examined at a later stage after hearing all concerned.

Title: BHUVAN BAM & ANR v. INKWYNK & ORS

Click here to read order