Vivek Anand Oberoi AI media incident — Feb 2026

On 4 February 2026, actor Vivek Anand Oberoi initiated a lawsuit against various entities, including a poster dealer, alleging unauthorized use of his personality rights. The suit claimed that the defendant was creating custom-made posters using his image without authorization. On 5 February 2026, a single Judge of the Delhi High Court granted an ex-parte ad-interim injunction, citing the plaintiff's copyright over his own personality and restraining the use of his name, voice, image, and likeness.

What happened

The legal dispute centered on five listings of vintage film posters for the movies Company (2002), Omkara (2006), and Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007). The defendant, a proprietorship that collects and resells vintage film memorabilia, argued that the items were genuine physical copies produced around the time of the films' original releases. The defendant maintained that it did not manufacture the items, add images to them, or imply any endorsement by the actor.

The court's injunction was broad, covering content that allegedly diluted the actor's persona through blurring or tarnishment. The disputed posters were part of a larger set of impugned content that included links to other merchandise, social media material, and AI-generated content. Following the order, the defendant removed the five listings on 12 April 2026 and subsequently filed a reply contesting the restraint. The case has prompted wider legal debate in the Delhi High Court regarding whether personality rights can justify takedowns without establishing traditional wrongs such as copyright infringement, defamation, or passing off. As of late 2026, the court is considering these broader questions alongside similar suits involving other public figures.