Shruti Haasan has filed a commercial IP suit in the Bombay High Court to protect her personality and publicity rights from unauthorized AI-generated content, deepfakes, fake endorsements, and merchandise using her name, image, and likeness.

The pleadings emphasize Haasan’s distinctive brand across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and English cinema, music, and endorsements, arguing that her name is continuously and widely identified with her.

Justice Abhay Ahuja granted leave under Clause XII of the Letters Patent to institute the suit, allowing it to proceed despite jurisdictional limitations because part of the cause of action arises outside the court’s territorial jurisdiction.

The court permitted the suit to move to the High Court’s Commercial Division by Clause XII leave, acknowledging action can proceed where parts of the cause arise within Bombay’s jurisdiction.

Leave under Clause XII also allows the matter to advance with interim relief likely to be considered by Justice Madhav Jamdar.

The suit names Indian and international entities, social media platforms, and unidentified defendants (John Doe) accused of hosting or facilitating infringing content, with permission granted to file under Clause XII.

Defendants include Mahalaxmi Arts and Craft Works for selling posters with her image on Flipkart, along with major platforms and agencies such as Google/YouTube, Meta/Facebook and Instagram, X Corp, and Pinterest.

Haasan accuses platforms of hosting AI-generated, explicit videos featuring her, naming Google, YouTube, Meta (Facebook/Instagram), X Corp, and Pinterest as defendants.

She also names poster sellers, celebrity booking and fashion sites, and tech giants as defendants in relation to unauthorized use of her name and likeness.

She seeks removal of infringing material, permanent injunctions, a John Doe order against unidentified infringers, damages, and an account of profits from the unauthorized use of her name, image, and related attributes.

Interim relief is expected to be considered before Justice Madhav Jamdar, with the matter likely to be mentioned for such relief.

The case is likely to be listed for interim relief to seek removal of infringing material from platforms.