● Covered by 2 sources · 2 reportsMedium impact2 neutral
Tokyo Court Rules AI Voice Cloning Violates Publicity Rights in Landmark Case
Key points
- Tokyo court ruled human voice protected under publicity rights.
- Case involved actor Kenjiro Tsuda and AI-generated voice on TikTok.
- Court dismissed video removal request as user deleted content.
- Decision applies if voice use is for commercial appeal.
- Kenjiro Tsuda is a prominent anime voice actor.
- Tsuda starred as Seto Kaiba in Yu-Gi-Oh!.
- The TikTok videos were uploaded between July 2024 and late 2023.
Landmark Ruling on Voice Protection
A Tokyo district court has established a legal precedent by ruling that the human voice is protected under publicity rights. This decision came from a case brought by actor Kenjiro Tsuda against TikTok, where an AI-generated voice in videos was alleged to have cloned his distinctive baritone.
Presiding Judge Aya Takahashi stated that unauthorized use of a performer's voice infringes on publicity rights, comparing a voice's symbolic value to that of a portrait. The protection applies when the voice is used exclusively to exploit its commercial appeal.
Details of the Lawsuit
Kenjiro Tsuda, known for voicing Kento Nanami in 'Jujutsu Kaisen', claimed that 188 TikTok videos uploaded between July 2024 and September last year used an AI-generated voice that was indistinguishable from his. The TikTok account, which featured images resembling Tsuda's character, posted content on urban legends and conspiracy theories, reportedly earning significant monthly revenue.
While the court affirmed voice protection, it dismissed Tsuda's request for video removal because the user had already deleted the content shortly after the lawsuit was filed in November.
Implications for the Voice Acting Industry
This ruling is considered the first in Japan to defend an individual's vocal identity against AI-generated copies. It addresses growing concerns among Japan's voice actors, many of whom are prominent figures, that AI mimicry poses a threat to their livelihoods and the broader industry.
Yuko Sasaki, executive director of the Japan Actors Union, emphasized that an actor's voice is the result of extensive training and apprenticeship, highlighting the professional value now legally recognized by the court.
Updates
- Kenjiro Tsuda is a prominent anime voice actor.
- Tsuda starred as Seto Kaiba in Yu-Gi-Oh!.
- The TikTok videos were uploaded between July 2024 and late 2023.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
A Tokyo court ruled that human voices are protected by law, siding with anime voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda in a case against an anonymous TikTok account that used an AI-cloned version of his voice. This marks the first such ruling in Japan, establishing that unauthorized use of an actor's voice infringes on their publicity rights.
A Tokyo district court ruled that the human voice has legal protection under publicity rights, in a case where an AI-generated voice on TikTok mimicked actor Kenjiro Tsuda. This decision marks the first time a Japanese court has recognized vocal identity protection against AI copies, setting a precedent for the country's voice acting industry concerned about AI mimicry.