The Madras High Court has issued an interim injunction directing Meta Platforms and Telegram to take down social media accounts that have been unauthorizedly using photos and audio of renowned dancer Anita Ratnam. Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, upon a prima facie assessment, opined that these accounts had misused Ratnam's celebrity status for commercial purposes, which did not fall under the fair use exception. Consequently, the court ordered Meta and Telegram to remove the specific links mentioned in Ratnam's complaint and any similar links identified and communicated by her in the future.
Anita Ratnam, known for coining the "Neo Bharatam" dance style, approached the Madras High Court stating that certain social media accounts were using her images to lure the public into making financial investments. She also informed the court that her voice had been mimicked, possibly using artificial intelligence, by these accounts. These accounts were being operated through the platforms of Meta and Telegram.
In response, Ratnam sought a John Doe Order to protect her intellectual property. The court, recognizing a prima facie case, instructed the social media platforms to take down the links specified in Ratnam's plea. Furthermore, the court directed that any similar links identified by Ratnam and communicated to Meta and Telegram should also be removed in accordance with the order.
The case, titled "Dr Anita R Ratnam v. Meta Platforms," was represented by Counsel Mr. M. S. Bharath and is cited as 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 166, with case numbers O.A.Nos.468 to 472 of 2025 and A.No.2251 of 2025 in C.S.(Comm.Div.) No.119 of 2025.
This ruling underscores the court's recognition of the misuse of a public figure's persona and the unauthorized exploitation of their intellectual property on digital platforms. It also highlights the judiciary's proactive stance in addressing such infringements in the digital age.
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