- tech360.tv
Tech Firm Accused of Cloning and Selling Voice Performers' Voices
Voice-over performers Paul Skye Lehrman and Linnea Sage discover that their voices have been cloned and sold without their consent. A lawsuit was filed against text-to-speech platform Lovo for allegedly reproducing voices under false pretences. According to legal experts, the case could revolve around publicity rights and potential contract breaches.
While listening to a podcast about AI's impact on the entertainment industry, they were surprised to hear their own voices discussing the possibility of AI replacing human workers.
The couple from New York City discovered that a tech company had allegedly stolen their voices, created AI clones, and sold them without their permission. This discovery prompted them to file a lawsuit against the text-to-speech platform Lovo, which they blame for this unethical practice.
According to Lehrman and Sage, the process of voice cloning began under false pretences. Tom Lee, Lovo's co-founder, previously stated that their voice-cloning software could accurately replicate a voice after reading only about 50 sentences. The couple claims that anonymous Lovo employees approached them via the freelance platform Fiverr to record audio assets, which were then used to create these unauthorised clones.
In 2019, a user approached Ms Sage about recording a number of generic test radio scripts, which is a common practice in the entertainment industry for a variety of reasons. These recordings, which are not intended for widespread use, are less expensive than those for broadcasting. Ms Sage completed the task and provided the files for US$400 (£303).
Months later, Mr Lehrman received a similar request to record radio commercials for a mysterious purpose related to "speech synthesis". Despite seeking assurances that the scripts would remain exclusive to the research project, details were kept confidential. Mr Lehrman delivered the files and received US$1200.
The couple discovered a link between the anonymous user and Lovo, a connection allegedly facilitated by Lovo themselves. Despite concerns about voice cloning, Lovo defended their actions, claiming that their interactions with the anonymous user were lawful.
Both Mr Lehrman and Ms Sage lacked written contracts and relied solely on conversations. The BBC's attempts to verify these discussions were unsuccessful, with some messages allegedly deleted by the user. When the BBC contacted Lovo, he declined to comment on the couple's claims.
The couple filed a lawsuit accusing Lovo of using their voices without permission to create competing copies. This class action lawsuit seeks to gather additional claimants by focussing on potential breaches of publicity rights and contract agreements.
Professor Kristelia Garcia, a legal expert, emphasises the importance of publicity rights and contractual terms in such cases. She emphasises that licenses grant specific permissions, and any deviation from the agreed-upon terms may result in legal disputes.
This legal battle exemplifies a broader trend of artists and creators defending their IP rights. As technology advances, concerns about AI's impact on job security grow, with predictions of a significant workforce reduction due to automation.
For Mr Lehrman and Ms Sage, the effects of AI on their creative work are unfolding in real time, highlighting the unexpected challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
Voice-over performers Paul Skye Lehrman and Linnea Sage discover their voices cloned and sold without consent.
Lawsuit filed against text-to-speech platform Lovo for allegedly reproducing voices under false pretences.
Legal experts suggest the case may focus on rights of publicity and potential breaches of contract.
Source: BBC