A Japanese court has set a legal precedent by recognizing the human voice as deserving of publicity rights protection in a landmark case. The ruling follows a dispute involving an actor whose distinctive baritone voice was allegedly cloned and used in AI-generated TikTok videos without consent. Legal experts are watching closely as this decision could reshape how voice-related intellectual property is handled in digital spaces. The verdict marks the first time a court has explicitly extended such protections to vocal performances in Japan.
Kenjiro Tsuda wins case against TikTok account in landmark Japanese verdict to protect publicity rightsA court in Japan has ruled that the human voice has legal protection after a landmark case involving a well-known actor and a TikTok account that he claimed had cloned his “lustrous” baritone voice in its AI-generated videos.Tokyo district court said on Wednesday that voices should enjoy the same protection as publicity rights, at the end of a closely watched legal action brought against TikTok by Kenjiro Tsuda – best known for voicing the character Kento Nanami in the anime Jujutsu Kaisen. Continue reading...
