The Event: In October 2025, courts in India set a global precedent for “Personality Rights” in the age of AI. The Delhi High Court and Bombay High Court issued landmark injunctions protecting Bollywood superstars Hrithik Roshan and Akshay Kumar from unauthorized AI clones.

The courts restrained multiple platforms from using AI deepfakes to create unauthorized endorsements. In a novel move, the Bombay High Court ruled that even a “voice clone” or a “digital avatar” constitutes an infringement of the actor’s personality rights and trademarked name, ordering platforms like Meta and Google to scrub the infringing content immediately.

The “Wu-Tang” Trade Secret: In a stranger twist, a US Federal Court ruled this month that the Wu-Tang Clan’s unreleased album, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, qualifies as a Trade Secret. Because only one physical copy exists and it was sold with strict non-disclosure terms, the court found its value derived specifically from its secrecy—expanding the definition of trade secrets into the music industry.

How ASEAN IPR Helps: The line between “fan art” and “infringement” has vanished. ASEAN IPR helps celebrities and influencers in Southeast Asia enforce their Personality Rights. If your likeness is being used by an AI generator or a deepfake scam, we use these new legal precedents to issue immediate takedown notices to platforms operating in the region.