Personality rights shouldn't be used to curb parody, caricature: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court has cautioned against the invocation of personality rights to extinguish caricature, lampooning, or parody which may not be commercially exploitative.

The court made the observation while granting protection to Physics Wallah founder Alakh Pandey against the use of his name, image, and other attributes from impersonation and monetisation by third parties.

The educator alleged that several internet platforms and users were monetising his name, image, etc, through social media posts, sticker packs, videos, websites, and suchlike means.

Some of this content was vulgar and sexually explicit, he contended.

In the interim order passed on August 5, Justice Anup J Bhambhani opined that he would grant protection to Pandey for three sets of violations: content that is sexually vulgar, content that monetises his personality without any licence, and impersonation.

"In the opinion of this court, the concept of personality rights as has been claimed in the present matter ma