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Arbaaz Khan & Sunny Leone’s ‘Tera Intezaar’ faces lawsuit over Barbie references

The Arbaaz Khan and Sunny Leone starrer ‘Tera Intezaar’, has been issued a High Court notice just days before the film releases.

According to Deccan Chronicle, the issuing party in this is Mattel Inc, who are suing the producers of the film for using ‘Barbie’ in one of the songs picturised on Leone. Mattel Inc are the official manufacturers of the Barbie doll and have said the use of the name has been done without their permission and “in a manner antagonistic to the values and interests of the customers target base, the plaintiffs cater to.”

Mattel also disapprove of the name being associated with Leone for being a well know adult entertainer and feel it is not suitable for their audience who are children. Such attributes, it submits, “are provocative and inappropriate for younger girls and children, tarnishing and degrading the distinctive quality of the mark ‘Barbie’.”

Judge Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, however, refused to grant ex-parte injunction against Mattel Inc., and advised both parties to “chill”. The court also noted that the plea may be considered at the notice stage. “If after a film has been so cleared by CBFC, the Courts were to act as super Censor Board at the mere asking, it will have the potential of imposing arbitrary and at times irrational prior restraints causing severe damage to the right of freedom and and expression,” said Endlaw.

‘Tera Intezaar’ is due to release this Friday on the 1st December.