Tokyo Court Grants Human Voices Publicity Rights in 188-Video AI Cloning Case
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Sep 30
Tokyo Court Grants Human Voices Publicity Rights in 188-Video AI Cloning Case
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 30
Summary
Tokyo District Court ruled that a human voice can be protected under publicity rights when used to exploit its commercial appeal, marking Japan’s first such AI-copying judgment.
Kenjiro Tsuda sued over 188 TikTok videos posted between July 2024 and September 2025, alleging an anonymous account cloned his distinctive baritone to narrate occult and conspiracy-themed clips.
Judge Aya Takahashi likened a voice to a portrait as a symbol of personality, but the court rejected Tsuda’s request to force removals because the user had already deleted the videos after the suit was filed.
The account had topped 200,000 subscribers and was estimated to earn up to ¥500,000 a month, while TikTok said it would respect the ruling and review its next steps.
The decision lands as Japan’s voice-acting industry pushes back against AI mimicry, including a 2024 “No More” campaign against unauthorized use of actors’ faces and voices.