Ruling on Voice Rights: Unauthorized Use of AI-Generated Imitations Must Be Deterred
Cases in which third parties use generative artificial intelligence to imitate the voice of a celebrity without permission have become a growing concern. A court ruling that has, for the first time, recognized that a person’s voice is protected by publicity rights will likely serve as a deterrent against such actions.
Voice imitation using generative artificial intelligence without consent is becoming a significant concern. For the first time, a court ruling has acknowledged that a person's voice can be protected under publicity rights. In a case involving voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda, the Tokyo District Court ruled that a voice can be subject to legal protection, though the lawsuit was dismissed as the videos were removed after the complaint was filed.
However, this decision is significant because it recognized the voice as a symbol of a person's personality, thus connecting voice protection to the right of publicity.
The ruling follows a similar view expressed by a Justice Ministry study group in August, but it is noteworthy as a court decision. The rapid advancement of generative AI has made it easy to create voice clones that are nearly indistinguishable from the original. This has led to numerous instances of unauthorized use of celebrity voices in AI-generated videos posted online.
Such actions are akin to free riding, as voice actors and singers invest years in developing their voices, and unauthorized use without compensation is unfair. The potential for spreading misinformation through AI-generated content is also considerable and could cause severe damage.
Foreign celebrities, such as American singer Taylor Swift, are taking steps to protect their voices by trademarking them. In Japan, urgent action is needed to address voice rights protection. Currently, there is no specific law governing voice rights, and the Japanese government is considering legislation in this area. However, it is essential not to stifle cultural practices like celebrity vocal impressions in the process. Thorough debate among experts is necessary to reach a balanced solution.
Social media platforms also play a crucial role in addressing this issue. Platform operators must clarify their removal criteria for unauthorized voice use and handle such cases appropriately. After initially rejecting Tsuda's request for the removal of the videos, the platform operator ultimately complied, highlighting the importance of clear guidelines in dealing with unauthorized voice use cases.
Written by urgent.news from The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
