చంద్రబాబు ఆపద మొక్కులు | KTR Satires On CM Chandrababu Over AP Government Schemes

Kamal Haasan recently moved the Madras High Court seeking protection of his personality rights against the unauthorised use of his image, name, likeness, and commercial merchandising. While acknowledging the actor’s concerns, the court made it clear that lawful and permissible forms of creative expression such as satire and caricature will not be restrained.

The verdict, which was delivered recently, strikes a balance between protecting a celebrity’s rights and safeguarding creative freedom. In today’s digital age, public figures often find their photos and videos widely used on social media for creative expression. While some such content is created out of admiration or harmless humour, others involve morphing images or using a celebrity’s likeness for commercial gain without consent.

During the hearing, senior counsel representing Kamal Haasan submitted several instances of morphed images, stating that they were causing incalculable damage to the actor’s reputation and public image. The counsel also pointed out the unauthorised use of Kamal Haasan’s name and likeness on merchandise without his consent or endorsement.

The court added “John Doe” as the second respondent in the case and directed the plaintiff to issue a public notice regarding the court order in both English and Tamil newspapers. This move is aimed at preventing unknown entities from misusing the actor’s identity in the future.

Notably, the court clarified that creative expressions such as satire, parody, and caricature—when not used for commercial exploitation—fall under permissible artistic freedom and should not be curbed. The decision has been welcomed by many, as it protects individual rights while still allowing space for creativity and expression.

In recent times, several actors across the country have approached courts seeking protection of their personality rights. Against this backdrop, the Madras High Court’s ruling is being seen as a balanced and progressive step that respects both celebrity rights and creative expression.