The Delhi High Court has raised questions over whether the goodwill attached to the Bachchan family name can extend across generations while hearing Aaradhya Bachchan’s plea against alleged misinformation.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday examined the scope of personality rights and family goodwill while hearing a case involving Aaradhya Bachchan, daughter of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

The case concerns allegedly false and misleading YouTube videos about Aaradhya’s health and private life. During the hearing, Justice Anup J Bhambhani questioned whether the reputation associated with a prominent family name could be treated in a manner similar to goodwill attached to a trademark.

The court specifically asked how far such reputation could extend through generations and whether a family name’s goodwill automatically benefits successive members.

Aaradhya’s 2023 Plea

Aaradhya approached the Delhi High Court in 2023 through her father, Abhishek Bachchan, after several online videos allegedly spread false claims about her health.

The content reportedly included claims that she was seriously ill or hospitalised. Some videos allegedly went further by falsely claiming that she had died, while others made allegations about the family’s handling of her medical treatment.

The plea sought protection against the dissemination of such material and raised concerns over the use of Aaradhya’s images and private information.

Questions Over Personality Rights

During Thursday’s hearing, the court also examined whether the publication of false or misleading material could amount to an infringement of intellectual property rights.

Justice Bhambhani questioned whether even highly objectionable misinformation could constitute an intellectual property violation and, if so, which specific right could apply.

The issue places personality rights, privacy, reputation and intellectual property law in the same legal discussion. The court’s observations indicate that it is examining the boundaries between these distinct areas of protection.

Bachchan Family Goodwill

Advocate Pravin Anand, representing the plaintiffs, argued that attempts to damage or commercially exploit the family’s goodwill should be prevented.

The legal team also pointed to the use of photographs featuring members of the Bachchan family and the association of the Bachchan name with the allegedly false material.

The court’s question about whether reputation “flows down generationally” could become significant as it considers whether the goodwill associated with a well-known family can independently support claims brought by younger members.

Earlier Court Protection

The Delhi High Court had already intervened in the matter in April 2023. At that stage, the court restrained several YouTube channels from circulating misleading material concerning Aaradhya’s health.

The earlier proceedings highlighted the fact that Aaradhya was a child when the disputed material appeared. The court strongly criticised the circulation of misinformation concerning a child’s health and stressed the need to protect children from such content.

The court had also directed Google to prevent the dissemination of the allegedly misleading material.

Case Involves Online Misinformation

The proceedings come amid continuing legal challenges involving celebrities and the use of their names, images and personal information online.

For public figures and their families, false claims can spread rapidly through video-sharing platforms and social media. The Aaradhya case raises a broader legal question about what remedies are available when misinformation concerns a minor who belongs to a prominent family.

At the same time, the court must determine the precise legal basis on which such content can be challenged.

Next Hearing In September

The Delhi High Court is expected to continue examining the matter in September. The proceedings could provide further clarity on the relationship between personality rights, family goodwill, reputation and intellectual property protection.

For now, the court has not made a final determination on the legal questions raised during the hearing. The Aaradhya Bachchan case therefore remains pending, with the next stage expected to focus on the legal protection available against allegedly false online content and the extent to which family reputation can be invoked in such proceedings.