Japan Actors Union Implements New Guidelines for AI Voice Replication
- The Japan Actors Union establishes guidelines regulating AI-generated voice use, prohibiting the replication of deceased actors’ voices without prior consent.
- Key points include mandatory consent at every stage of AI processes and compensation for AI-generated replicas considered new performances.
- The union advocates for legislation to protect ‘voice rights’, amidst growing concerns from actors and similar organizations globally.
The Japan Actors Union has introduced a set of new guidelines aimed at regulating the use of AI-generated voices in the entertainment industry. Notably, these guidelines impose a ban on replicating the voices of deceased actors unless explicit authorization was granted during their lifetime.
According to Automaton, these measures are designed to safeguard an industry facing exploitation from generative AI technologies. An illustration of this ongoing concern is voiced by actor Kenjiro Tsuda, known for his roles in ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ and ‘Chainsaw Man’, who previously took TikTok to court over unauthorized AI voice imitations. Although Tsuda lost the case, he established a precedent that individuals’ voices are protected under publicity rights laws.
The guidelines encompass four principal points. The first emphasizes the need for consent, mandating that permission be obtained at every stage of the generative AI process, including prior to training AI models on actors’ performances.
The second point asserts that AI-generated replicas of an actor’s work will be treated as new performances, thereby requiring AI companies to pay royalties or provide compensation to the original actors.
A further stipulation addresses the use of generative AI in translations, stating that AI must preserve the “artistic integrity” of original performances. Such translations cannot be deployed in international markets without appropriate permissions.
Additionally, the union has prohibited the use of generative AI in replicating the work of deceased actors without their express permission, which must have been given while they were alive. In this case, any AI company would still need authorization from the deceased actor’s family or their affiliated agency and would be obligated to pay royalties.
The Japan Actors Union commented, “The Japan Actors Union will strive to not just establish these guidelines as industry-wide rules, but also strengthen its efforts to encourage the government to legislate regulations that protect ‘voice rights’. Technological advancements will not stop, but the ‘living, breathing human expression’ and a ‘respect for rights’ must always remain at its core.”
While these guidelines are not legally binding, they reflect a significant initiative by the Japan Actors Union to encourage legal reform in the industry. The push for improved protections coincides with similar movements globally, as other actors’ unions express concerns regarding the impact of generative AI technologies, with some describing its effects as “catastrophic”.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
