What did the court decide about voice rights?

The Tokyo District Court recognized that voice is subject to publicity rights, which control commercial gain from a person's identity.

Why was the lawsuit dismissed?

The court dismissed the demand because the videos had already been deleted by the time of the ruling.

Audio & SpeechAI Regulation & PolicyJapan Times Tech1h agoSep 30, 2026, 16:00 JST

Tokyo court dismisses Kenjiro Tsuda AI voice case

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3 Key Points

What happened
The Tokyo District Court dismissed Kenjiro Tsuda's demand that TikTok remove AI voice-clone videos, citing prior deletion. Judge Aya Takahashi recognized voice as a protected publicity right.
Why it matters
The ruling sets a precedent that voice can be protected under publicity rights even when the specific removal demand fails.
What to watch
Whether future cases proceed when videos remain online, and how the Justice Ministry's August guidelines on voice rights are applied.

WHO IT HITSThis ruling affects voice actors, singers, and other performers whose voices may be cloned by AI, as well as platform operators like TikTok that host user-generated content.

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Context & Analysis

The case is the first in Japan filed over a "voice rights" infringement using generative AI, reflecting growing global concern about unauthorized voice imitation. Kenjiro Tsuda, known for roles in franchises including "Jujutsu Kaisen," sued TikTok in November over 188 videos that his team said used AI to imitate his distinctive "deep and lustrous" voice. The platform argued the voice was generic and the account had been deleted.

The court's recognition of voice as a publicity right aligns with the Justice Ministry's August guidelines stating voices should be protected like images. However, the dismissal on procedural grounds leaves unresolved how such rights will be enforced when content remains online. The outcome may hinge on whether future plaintiffs can show ongoing harm from AI voice clones that platforms have not removed.

FAQ

What did the court decide about voice rights?: The Tokyo District Court recognized that voice is subject to publicity rights, which control commercial gain from a person's identity.
Why was the lawsuit dismissed?: The court dismissed the demand because the videos had already been deleted by the time of the ruling.

Japan Times TechRead Original Article

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