Historical order MadrasHighCourt Justice N Senthilkumar Temporarily Stayed digital platforms including YouTube, Google and music labels, from using AI generated, morphed pictures of #Ilaiyaraaja, his music, voice, name and nickname; interim relief was granted on his suit&applications
[21/11, 11:35] Sekarreporter: [21/11, 11:34] Sekarreporter: #MadrasHighCourt Justice N Senthilkumar Temporarily Stayed digital platforms including YouTube, Google and music labels, from using AI generated, morphed pictures of #Ilaiyaraaja, his music, voice, name and nickname; interim relief was granted on his suit&applications 
@xpresstn
[21/11, 11:35] Sekarreporter: யூ டியூப், பேஸ்புக், எக்ஸ், இன்ஸ்டாகிராம் போன்ற சமூக வலைதளங்களில் இசையமைப்பாளர் இளையராஜாவின் புகைப்படத்தை பயன்படுத்த இடைக்கால தடை விதித்து சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.
யூ டியூப், பேஸ்புக், எக்ஸ், இன்ஸ்டாகிராம் போன்ற சமூக வலைதளங்களில் தனது புகைப்படத்தை அனுமதி இன்றி பயன்படுத்த தடை விதிக்க கோரி பிரபல இசையமைப்பாளர் இளையராஜா சென்னை உயர்நீதிமன்றத்தில் புதிய வழக்கை தாக்கல் செய்துள்ளார்.
அந்த மனுவில், தன்னை அடையாளப்படுத்தும் வகையில் தனது புகைப்படம், பெயர், இசைஞானி என்ற பட்டப் பெயர், குரல் என எதையும் பயன்படுத்தக் கூடாது எனவும், சமூக வலைதளங்களில் ஏற்கனவே பதிவிடப்பட்ட புகைப்படங்களை நீக்க வேண்டும். அனுமதியின்றி தனது புகைப்படத்தை பயன்படுத்தியதன் மூலம் கிடைத்த வருமான விவரங்களை தாக்கல் செய்ய உத்தரவிட வேண்டும் என கோரப்பட்டுள்ளது.
பல்வேறு யூ டியூப் சேனல்கள், சோனி உள்ளிட்ட இசை நிறுவனங்கள், பேஸ்புக் உள்ளிட்ட சமூக வலைதளங்களுக்கு எதிராக தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்ட இந்த வழக்கு, நீதிபதி என் செந்தில்குமார் முன் விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது.
அப்போது, இளையராஜா தரப்பில் ஆஜரான மூத்த வழக்கறிஞர் பிரபாகரன் மற்றும் சரவணன் ஆகியோர், இசையமைப்பாளர் இளையராஜாவின் புகைப்படத்தை மார்ஃபிங் செய்தும், ஏ ஐ தொழில் நுட்பத்தின் பயன்படுத்தி மாற்றியும் பயன்படுத்தி வருவாய் ஈட்டுவதாக குற்றம் சாட்டினர்.
அப்போது குறுக்கிட்ட நீதிபதி, பெயரை, புகைப்படங்களை பயன்படுத்துவதால் இளையராஜாவுக்கு என்ன பாதிப்பு ஏற்படுகிறது எனக் கேள்வி எழுப்பினார்.
இதற்கு பதிலளித்த இளையராஜா தரப்பு மூத்த வழக்கறிஞர், தனது புகைப்படத்தையோ, பெயரையோ வணிக ரீதியாக பயன்படுத்தி வருவாய் ஈட்டுகின்றனர். இது தனது தனிப்பட்ட உரிமையை பாதிக்கும் செயல் என்பதால், youtube, பேஸ்புக், இன்ஸ்டாகிராம் போன்ற சமூக வலைதளங்களில் ரீல்ஸ், மீம்ஸ்களில் அனுமதி இன்றி இளையராஜா புகைப்படத்தை பயன்படுத்துவதாகவும், சில நேரங்களில் அவதூறான கருத்துக்களும் பதிவிடப்படுவதாகவும் வாதிடப்பட்டது.
இளையராஜா தரப்பு வாதத்தை ஏற்றுக் கொண்ட நீதிபதி, சமூக வலைதளங்களில் இளையராஜாவின் புகைப்படத்தை அனுமதி இன்றி பயன்படுத்த இடைக்கால தடை விதித்து உத்தரவிட்டார்.
மேலும் மனுவுக்கு பதில் அளிக்கும்படி யூடியூப் சேனல்களுக்கும் நீதிபதி உத்தரவிட்டு விசாரணையை தள்ளி வைத்துள்ளார்.
[21/11, 11:56] Sekarreporter: MadrasHighCourt Justice N Senthilkumar Temporarily Stayed digital platforms including YouTube, Google and music labels, from using AI generated, morphed pictures of #Ilaiyaraaja, his music, voice, name and nickname; interim relief was granted on his suit&applications @xpresstn senior advt prabakaran advt saravanan https://www.sekarreporter.com/madrashighcourt-justice-n-senthilkumar-temporarily-stayed-digital-platforms-including-youtube-google-and-music-labels-from-using-ai-generated-morphed-pictures-of-ilaiyaraaja-his-music-voice-nam/
[21/11, 14:00] Sekarreporter: [21/11, 13:57] Sekarreporter: 👍👍
[21/11, 13:58] Sekarreporter: The Hon’ble Madras High Court today had granted an interim injunction in a john doe suit filed by renowned music director Ilayaraja barring the john does and the other defendants from commercial exploitation of name, voice, image, photographs and comical or animated images of Ilayaraja and making unauthorised gains through his personality and fame.
The matter was heard by Justice N Senthilkumar who held that there is a prima facie case for protection of personality rights of Mr Ilayaraja after hearing the contentions of Senior Counsel Mr S Prabakaran appearing for Mr Ilayaraja. It was contended by learned Senior Counsel that several social media platforms and the defendants are making unauthorised use and commercially exploiting the image, voice and likeness of the renowned music director including those AI generated videos of the Ilayaraja.
It was emphasised by Senior Advocate S Prabakaran that the present suit is filed only to protect the personality of Ilayaraja and contested that several social media platforms and the defendants are creating morphed images of Ilayaraja which are disparaging in nature and further, creating and circulating misleading information and false associations and rumours of him which disparage his personality. Emphasis was placed on the use of images and likeness of Ilayaraja without any authority solely for commercial purposes and to increase their commercial gains.
The court relied on several judgements of the Hon’ble Delhi Court and the Judgement of the Hon’ble Madras High Court in the case of Sivaji Rao Gaikwad v Varsha Productions. The Hon’ble Court after considering the contentions raised by Senior Counsel S Prabakaran granted interim injunction and directed the defendants to file counter.
[21/11, 16:23] Sekarreporter: Madras High Court protects music director Ilaiyaraaja’s personality rights | https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/madras-high-court-protects-music-director-ilaiyaraajas-personality-rights
[22/11, 07:20] Sekarreporter: https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2025/Nov/21/madras-hc-restrains-digital-platforms-from-using-ai-generated-images-and-voice-of-ilaiyaraaja
[22/11, 07:21] Sekarreporter: https://www.livelaw.in/high-court/madras-high-court/madras-high-court-ilaiyaraaja-personality-rights-interim-protection-310699
[22/11, 07:21] Sekarreporter: The Madras High Court, on friday, passed an interim order protecting the personality rights of renowned musician Ilaiyaraaja against unauthorised usage of his name, images, and other works by third parties.
Justice N Senthilkumar found a prima facie case in favour of the musician and granted interim relief in a suit moved by Ilaiyaraaja seeking to protect his personality rights. The court has also directed the respondents to file their counter.
“Since the plaintiff has made out a prima facie case, there shall be an interim order restraining the defendants from interfering with the personality rights of the plaintiff with respect to his name and image, photographs, comical and animated image, voice or any attributes identifiable with him by exploiting it in any manner without his authorisation,” the court said.
Senior Advocate S. Prabakaran, appearing for Ilaiyaraaja, submitted that the suit was being filed against misappropriating and fabricating his identity in any form on the public platform. He submitted that various media and YouTube channels were using Ilaiyaraaja’s images and name for commercial purposes to gain traction and generate revenue for exploitation.
He added that some channels were using his photo and making AI-generated content as if he were dancing, which was not permitted. Prabakaran also placed reliance on the recent orders by the Delhi High Court, protecting the personality rights of Raj Shamani, among others. Reliance was also placed on previous orders passed by the Madras High Court, granting similar rights to actor Rajnikanth.
At this point, the judge wondered how Ilaiyaraaja could be affected by third parties using his name.
“Does your popularity not depend on your photos and videos? For eg, any music which in available on platforms is being visualised based on movie name or actor’s name along with the composer’s name. What is the prejudice being caused to you by using the name?” the judge asked.
To this, Prabakaran replied that some channels were using the name and images of Ilaiyaraaja to make memes, which was not acceptable. He also produced screenshots of several photos of Ilaiyaraaja, which were being published unauthorisedly, thus tarnishing his image.
Finding merit in the submissions, the court was inclined to allow the interim relief as prayed for.
Case Title: Dr Ilaiyaraaja v. John Doe Ashok Kumar, and Others
Case No: OA 1091 of 2025 and CS (Comm Div) 295 of 2025
[22/11, 07:21] Sekarreporter: [22/11, 07:20] Sekarreporter: https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2025/Nov/21/madras-hc-restrains-digital-platforms-from-using-ai-generated-images-and-voice-of-ilaiyaraaja
[22/11, 07:21] Sekarreporter: https://www.livelaw.in/high-court/madras-high-court/madras-high-court-ilaiyaraaja-personality-rights-interim-protection-310699
[22/11, 07:21] Sekarreporter: The Madras High Court, on friday, passed an interim order protecting the personality rights of renowned musician Ilaiyaraaja against unauthorised usage of his name, images, and other works by third parties.
Justice N Senthilkumar found a prima facie case in favour of the musician and granted interim relief in a suit moved by Ilaiyaraaja seeking to protect his personality rights. The court has also directed the respondents to file their counter.
“Since the plaintiff has made out a prima facie case, there shall be an interim order restraining the defendants from interfering with the personality rights of the plaintiff with respect to his name and image, photographs, comical and animated image, voice or any attributes identifiable with him by exploiting it in any manner without his authorisation,” the court said.
Senior Advocate S. Prabakaran, appearing for Ilaiyaraaja, submitted that the suit was being filed against misappropriating and fabricating his identity in any form on the public platform. He submitted that various media and YouTube channels were using Ilaiyaraaja’s images and name for commercial purposes to gain traction and generate revenue for exploitation.
He added that some channels were using his photo and making AI-generated content as if he were dancing, which was not permitted. Prabakaran also placed reliance on the recent orders by the Delhi High Court, protecting the personality rights of Raj Shamani, among others. Reliance was also placed on previous orders passed by the Madras High Court, granting similar rights to actor Rajnikanth.
At this point, the judge wondered how Ilaiyaraaja could be affected by third parties using his name.
“Does your popularity not depend on your photos and videos? For eg, any music which in available on platforms is being visualised based on movie name or actor’s name along with the composer’s name. What is the prejudice being caused to you by using the name?” the judge asked.
To this, Prabakaran replied that some channels were using the name and images of Ilaiyaraaja to make memes, which was not acceptable. He also produced screenshots of several photos of Ilaiyaraaja, which were being published unauthorisedly, thus tarnishing his image.
Finding merit in the submissions, the court was inclined to allow the interim relief as prayed for.
Case Title: Dr Ilaiyaraaja v. John Doe Ashok Kumar, and Others
Case No: OA 1091 of 2025 and CS (Comm Div) 295 of 2025
[22/11, 07:28] Sekarreporter: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/madras-high-court-blocks-ilaiyaraaja-image-use-landmark-case-to-reshape-online-rules/articleshow/125481589.cms
