A Tokyo court has ruled that a person’s voice can fall under publicity rights protection, a legal first in Japan. The decision came in a case brought by voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda against TikTok.
Tsuda did not win his specific takedown request, but the ruling establishes a new legal precedent recognizing voice as a protectable element of personal identity under Japanese law. The decision could have implications for AI voice cloning and unauthorized use of performers’ vocal likeness on platforms operating in Japan.
Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.