Bombay High Court Upholds Stay on Film Title Infringing Karan Johar's Rights

The Bombay High Court has maintained its stance on halting the release of a film tentatively titled 'Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar', citing violation of prominent filmmaker Karan Johar's personality and publicity rights.

Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice M S Karnik noted Johar's significant reputation in the Indian and global entertainment sector, affirming his rights to protect his brand name commercially. The movie's maker, Sanjay Singh, faced a dismissal of his appeal that challenged an earlier court order halting the film's release.

The court highlighted that Karan Johar's name embodies brand value and is synonymous with his identity, giving him the economic right for its commercial use. Despite Singh's willingness to modify the title slightly, the court found such usage could still lead to public confusion.

(With inputs from agencies.)