Jackie Shroff expressed gratitude towards the Delhi High Court for ruling in his favor in a privacy protection case, where he sought safeguarding of his name, likeness, and the use of his nickname 'Bhidu' without authorization. Taking legal action on May 14 against various entities for unauthorized exploitation of his persona, Shroff highlighted the importance of upholding celebrity rights in today's digital age.
In his statement, Shroff emphasized the significance of controlling unauthorized use of celebrity attributes in the ever-evolving technological landscape, where digital media can easily mislead the public regarding a celebrity's association with products or services. He lauded the judiciary for recognizing and protecting these rights, citing earlier cases involving Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor.
The actor praised the Delhi High Court for acknowledging the necessity of safeguarding personality rights, particularly for public figures with wide-reaching influence. The court's injunction prohibits the misuse of Shroff's name, image, likeness, voice, and other personal attributes across all media platforms, including digital channels and technologies like AI and deep fakes, without explicit permission.
Shroff underscored that protecting his personality rights is essential for maintaining the authenticity and respect associated with his career, as well as safeguarding his fans from potential deception by unscrupulous individuals.
The ruling sets a precedent similar to Anil Kapoor's recent victory in a similar case, where the court granted protection to his name, voice, image, catchphrase, and other distinctive attributes.
With this legal win, one cannot simply use the term 'Bhidu' casually anymore, as it is now protected just like Jackie Shroff's entire persona.