icon and legend kenjiro tsuda is suing tiktok for featuring ai that clones his voice
Voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda has filed a lawsuit against TikTok over AI-generated videos allegedly mimicking his voice without permission. According to the lawsuit, unidentified TikTok accounts have uploaded more than 180 videos featuring narration generated by AI that mimicked Tsuda’s voice without authorization since July 2024. Tsuda’s legal team argues that these videos violate his “publicity rights,” which protect the commercial value associated with a celebrity’s identity and image and they are demanding that TikTok remove the videos. TikTok, however, argues that the narration on said videos used a “generic male voice” and therefore does not infringe on Tsuda’s publicity rights, requesting the court dismiss the case. The voice actor’s lawyer stated that allowing unauthorized AI voice generation to continue could harm the future development of the voice acting industry and hopes the lawsuit will help clarify the legal boundaries surrounding AI-generated voices and strengthen protections for voice actors. Meanwhile, TikTok’s Japanese branch declined further comment, saying they would respond appropriately through the legal proceedings. Currently, three closed-door dispute resolution proceedings have been held between Kenjiro Tsuda and TikTok. The first oral argument is expected to be held this summer.
Source: Seiyuu Corner
I can hear this man's voice in my head with just hearing his name or looking at his picture, that's how iconic his voice is in Japanese entertainment, not only in anime (for over 20 years!!!) but commercials, music, dramas and narration, he was cast recently in the medical drama The 19th Medical Chart to play a famous newscaster who loses his voice because of how iconic his voice is and how recognizable, the gall of saying his voice is "generic" is absolute bullshit and I hope he wins this case and sets a precedent
