Former Cricketer Secures Personality Rights Protection

In a key development, the Delhi High Court recently protected the personality rights of former cricketer and commentator Sunil Gavaskar.[1]

This case pertains to the sale of merchandise that utilised Gavaskar’s name, image, and signature, through e-commerce websites, and the attribution of false quotes to Gavaskar by users of social media platforms.

In its order dated December 23, 2025, the Court noted that Gavaskar had acquired celebrity status in India, thereby conferring on him proprietary rights in his personality and associated attributes. Prima facie, his personality traits and/or parts thereof, including his name, image, photograph, signature or likeness, were held to be protectable elements of his personality rights.

Holding that Gavaskar had made out a case for the grant of an ex-parte ad-interim injunction, the Court restrained infringing defendants and John Doe entities from utilising Gavaskar’s name, likeness, image, and signature to create any merchandise, or in any other manner misuse the said attributes using technological tools such as AI, GIFs, printing, publishing, etc. for commercial purposes, so as to result in violation of his personality and publicity rights. It also ordered the take-down of infringing URLs.

[1] Sunil Gavaskar v. Cricket Tak (CricketTak557) and Ors. [CS(COMM) 1329/2025]