Slumdog Millionaire actor Anil Kapoor scores major legal victory against AI in India

Anil Kapoor, a prominent Indian actor renowned for his roles in over 100 films, such as Slumdog Millionaire and the recent Thank You For Coming, has achieved a significant legal victory against artificial intelligence(AI). Kapoor initiated a lawsuit in the Delhi High Court to safeguard his personality rights, including his name, image, voice, and other aspects of his likeness.

Variety reported the court issued an order on Wednesday that recognized Kapoor’s personality rights and prohibited the unauthorized utilization of his attributes across various media formats on a global scale. Kapoor expressed his appreciation for the ruling, emphasizing its progressive nature, which benefits not only him but also fellow actors.

Speaking on the move behind the case, the actor raised concerns about the potential commercial misuse of AI and highlighted that this ruling safeguards him from various forms of usage, including GIFs and deepfakes. However, the extent of enforceability remains uncertain. Anil Kapoor’s legal action stemmed from several manipulated videos featuring a famous phrase from his 1985 film, Yudh, which is now also protected by the court’s order.

Kapoor, who is additionally under the representation of Artist International Group in Hollywood, expressed his solidarity with fellow actors and artists during the ongoing strikes by the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA).

“I feel their rights should be protected, because everybody, big, small, popular, not popular, every actor has the right to protect themselves and their rights,” he told Variety.

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AI at the heart of Hollywood strikes

In the midst of the ongoing Hollywood strikes, which primarily revolve around issues of equitable pay and streaming revenue, the prominent matter of contention is the growing utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) by major film and television production companies. Both actors and writers in the industry are raising their voices against the expanding and proposed implementation of AI technology.

Meera, a Culture Reporter at Mashable, became part of the UK team in 2021. Her writing covers a wide range of topics, including digital culture, mental health, significant technology companies, entertainment, and beyond. Her contributions have also found their way into prominent publications such as The New York Times, Vice, Vogue India, and various others.

AI at the Heart of Hollywood Strikes serves as a roadmap for exploring the multifaceted implications of the technology within this context.

Firstly, Artificial intelligence’s involvement in content creation is a crucial facet to examine. It comprises the use of AI technologies to generate scripts, craft storylines, and even create entirely virtual characters. This transformation poses a perceived threat to the traditional roles of writers and actors.

Moving forward, job security concerns among actors and writers loom large is another thing to talk about. The fear of job displacement due to AI’s capabilities is a driving force behind their participation in these strikes. The potential loss of roles and opportunities weighs heavily on their minds.

The debate over quality versus efficiency is an important dimension to explore. This pertains to the ongoing argument about the quality of AI-generated content compared to the depth, emotional nuance, and creativity found in human-authored work, particularly in the realms of storytelling and performance.

Streaming platforms, pivotal to these strikes, are increasingly incorporating AI algorithms for content recommendation and personalization. This integration holds the potential to shape what content is promoted and viewed, thereby influencing the entertainment landscape.

Intellectual property rights also emerge as a critical concern. Issues related to ownership and profits surrounding AI-generated content are at the forefront of actors’ and writers’ minds. Clarity on who benefits from AI-created work is essential.

Furthermore, there are growing calls for industry regulations to govern AI’s role in content creation. These regulations aim to ensure fair treatment of actors and writers while preserving the integrity of storytelling within the evolving landscape.

Exploring whether collaboration between AI and human creatives is possible in the entertainment industry adds another layer to the discussion. This perspective questions whether AI should be viewed solely as a competitive force or if there’s room for synergistic cooperation.

Collectively, these points provide a comprehensive view of the central role played by AI in the Hollywood strikes and its profound impact on both actors and writers in the industry.

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