Tokyo court grants legal protection to human voices in AI clone case
A Tokyo court has granted legal protection to human voices in a landmark case involving a Japanese anime voice actor who sought the removal of a TikTok account that used an artificial intelligence clone of his distinctive baritone voice. The Tokyo District Court's decision marks the first acknowledgment of the right to one's voice in Japan.
The plaintiff, Kenjiro Tsuda, is well-known for his deep and resonant voice, which he used to voice characters like Kento Nanami in the popular anime series "Jujutsu Kaisen." Tsuda argued that the anonymous operator of the TikTok account "Nanami" was profiting by attracting viewers with his voice in over 180 videos about urban legends and paranormal phenomena.
The court agreed, stating that unauthorized use with the intention of capitalizing on the commercial appeal of Tsuda's voice constitutes an infringement of publicity rights. While the court dismissed Tsuda's demand for the deletion of all videos using his voice, as the account had already been closed, the ruling sets a precedent for the protection of human voices in Japan.
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