The Delhi High Court on Tuesday ordered the removal of images of YouTuber and actor Bhuvan Bam that had been circulated without his consent across various platforms. While the court did not immediately rule on the broader question of personality rights, Justice Jyoti Singh stated that the issue would be examined in detail, with further hearings scheduled for February.
Bam’s case draws attention to a growing concern within India’s creator economy: the unauthorised use of a creator’s name, image, voice and likeness by individuals and organisations. The petition argued that such use infringes registered trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property held by Bam and his company, BB Ki Vines, and warned that commercial misuse could mislead the public.
“Creators build their brand with talent, time and trust,” Bam and BB Ki Vines said, adding that unauthorised commercial exploitation diminishes the value of a creator’s persona.
Bam, who has over 26.6 million subscribers on YouTube, launched BB Ki Vines in 2015. Known for short, character-driven sketches performed by him, the channel has built a large following. The court’s order provides interim relief while the legal questions around personality rights remain under consideration.