TOKYO | A Tokyo District Court has ruled for the first time in Japan that a person’s voice can receive protection under publicity rights, in a landmark case involving anime voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda and an artificial intelligence-generated voice resembling his distinctive baritone.
The ruling, issued Wednesday, Sept. 30, came after Tsuda sued over more than 180 TikTok videos narrated by a voice he said was intentionally created to imitate his own. The account, known as “Nanami,” had more than 200,000 subscribers by November 2025, with many viewers commenting on the similarity to Tsuda’s voice.
Presiding Judge Aya Takahashi said a human voice can symbolize an individual’s personality in much the same way as a portrait. The court said unauthorized use of a voice for the purpose of exploiting its commercial appeal can constitute an infringement of publicity rights.
The case involved an important distinction, however. The court did not order the videos removed because the TikTok account and the videos had already been deleted. Japanese media also reported that the court did not determine whether Tsuda’s rights had actually been violated in the specific case.
Tsuda, 55, is widely known for his roles in major anime franchises, including Kento Nanami in “Jujutsu Kaisen” and characters in “Yu-Gi-Oh!” His legal action highlighted growing concerns among Japanese voice actors and other performers over the unauthorized replication of distinctive voices using generative AI.
TikTok argued during the case that the videos used an AI-generated voice that was not actually Tsuda’s and could be considered a generic male voice. The plaintiff’s legal team, however, said its analysis indicated that generative AI had been used to reproduce characteristics of Tsuda’s deep voice.
The ruling follows broader efforts in Japan to clarify how existing law applies to generative AI. In August, a review committee established by Japan’s Justice Ministry issued guidelines stating that voices can fall under publicity rights and that unauthorized AI-generated likenesses, including voices, may lead to civil liability depending on the circumstances. The guidelines are not legally binding but provide an interpretive framework for future disputes.
Japan’s move comes amid a wider international debate over AI voice cloning. In 2024, OpenAI said it would stop using one of its ChatGPT voices after actor Scarlett Johansson objected to what she described as a striking similarity to her voice. Meanwhile, actors including Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey have entered licensing arrangements allowing AI companies to replicate their voices.
The Tokyo decision does not establish that every AI-generated imitation of a person’s voice is unlawful. Instead, it establishes that a human voice can fall within the scope of publicity rights, potentially giving performers a legal basis to challenge unauthorized commercial exploitation of their vocal identity as AI technology becomes increasingly capable of reproducing recognizable voices.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
