Why Every Influencer Has a Lawyer on Speed Dial
7/10/202615 min
Influencer marketing has exploded into a serious revenue stream, but legal awareness hasn't kept pace. Hosts Anirban Chowdhury and Rajesh N Naidu speak to Ishan Johri, Partner, Khaitan & Co, who breaks down who actually bears responsibility when a promotional post goes wrong: the brand, the influencer, or the agency in between. He explains why disclosing a free product matters just as much as disclosing a cash payment, why beauty and health content attracts the most legal complaints, and how SEBI is cracking down on unqualified finfluencers. From copyright grey zones to what a legal notice actually looks like, this is a masterclass in the risks creators overlook.
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First 90 secondsAnirban Chaudhuri· Host0:00
[intro music] The creator economy has exploded, and so have its legal headaches. What was once a hobby is now a business bringing contracts, liability, and real legal exposure. Brands are showing up with legal teams, pushing creators they collaborate with to do the same. Add to that murky disclosure rules, sector-specific regulations for health, food, and finance content, and consumer protection laws that hold influencers equally responsible as companies for their claims, and you know that legal counsel is a must-have. Today, with Ishant Johri of Khaitan & Co, my colleague, ET's entertainment and film journalist Rajesh Naidu, and I unpack why creators are making a beeline for lawyers, who's responsible when campaigns and collabs go wrong, and what disclosure really means now. It's Friday, the 10th of July. I'm Anirban Chaudhuri. This is The Morning Brief. [outro music] Hi, Ishant. Very warm welcome to The Morning Brief.
Ishant Johri· Guest1:26
Thanks, Anirban.
Anirban Chaudhuri· Host1:28
So we are discussing this whole