Delhi High Court Grants Interim Injunction Against Deepfake Video Disparaging TAJ Trademark

Court Orders Immediate Removal of AI-Generated Video Targeting Indian Hotels Company and Its Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur

In a significant move to protect the reputation of one of India's most prestigious hospitality brands, the Delhi High Court has issued an interim injunction against the dissemination of a deepfake video that falsely portrays the Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, as being involved in illegal activities. The judgment was delivered by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, who found a prima facie case of trademark infringement and disparagement against the defendants.

The plaintiff, Indian Hotels Company Limited, a part of the Tata Group, argued that the video, which was circulated on Instagram by an anonymous user under the account "Travelagio," made fictitious and defamatory claims about the hotel and its staff. The video alleged that guests at the Taj Lake Palace were poisoned, a claim the court found to be baseless and misleading.

Acknowledging the urgent nature of the complaint, the court exempted the plaintiff from the requirement of pre-institution mediation under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. It also allowed the plaintiff to file additional documents related to the case within a stipulated timeframe.

The court directed Defendant No. 2, Meta Platforms, Inc., to remove the video from Instagram within 36 hours and to provide all available information about the account holder to the plaintiff. Furthermore, the court instructed Meta to monitor and prevent any re-uploading of the video across its platforms.

Justice Arora emphasized the potential reputational damage to the plaintiff, underscoring the importance of protecting the TAJ trademark, which has been declared well-known in a previous judgment by the court. The court's order reflects a strong stance against the misuse of artificial intelligence tools to spread misinformation and harm established brands.

The next hearings are scheduled for December 5, 2025, before the Joint Registrar and March 23, 2026, in court, where further proceedings will take place.

Bottom Line:

Interim injunction granted to restrain the publication and dissemination of a false and AI-generated deepfake video that disparages and infringes upon the Plaintiff's well-known TAJ trademarks.

Statutory provision(s): Commercial Courts Act, 2015 Section 12A, Commercial Courts Act, 2015 Order XI Rule 1(4), Trademark Law, Order XXXIX Rule 1 and 2 of CPC, Section 151 of CPC

Indian Hotels Company Limited v. John Doe, (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2795587