Superstar Rajinikanth issues public notice against unauthorised use of his name, image, and voice

The public notice

The public notice, dated Saturday, 28 January, was issued on behalf of the actor by his counsel Subbiah Elambharathi.

The notice stated that the actor has a humongous reputation, having acted in films across languages for decades. His charisma and nature as an actor and as a human being have earned him the title “Superstar”.

It stated that the sheer proportion of his fan base and the respect he has earned in the film industry is unmatched and indisputable.

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“Any damage or violation to his reputation or persona would entail a great loss to our client, having its effect over many spheres,” noted the public notice.

Unauthorised use

Further, the public notice stated that it has come to Rajinikanth’s notice that various platforms and mediums, and also various product manufacturers, are misappropriating his name, voice, image, photograph and caricature image, artistic image, computer AI-generated image, and other characteristics to create popularity and to entice members of the public to purchase their products.

“Our client is popularly known as Superstar. Our client states that our client’s image, name, unique photographs, and or likeness on digital platforms and physical platforms, all of which are distinctive to our client, and any unauthorised use of the same by anyone is likely to create confusion and deception amongst the public,” the public notice stated.

Further, if anyone is infringing on Rajinikanth’s personality/publicity/celebrity rights over all facets of his personality, including but not limited to his name, voice, image, and other distinctive elements that are uniquely associated with him, the actor will take civil and criminal action, the notice warned.

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Sussing out the competition?

A Tamil movie producer, on request of anonymity, highlighted a recent controversy on the title “Superstar”.

He alleged that Rajinikanth wants to keep a check on actor Vijay’s supporters using the title “Superstar”, which is uniquely associated with him.

He also stated that Rajinikanth has a line-up of three movies, including Jailer — produced by Sun Pictures — and that he wants to maintain himself as the business emperor of Kollywood.

If someone uses his title, then the business could fall, and that might be the reason for such a public notice, the producer claimed.