What happened
The Tokyo District Court ruled that the unauthorized AI‑generated use of Kenjiro Tsuda’s voice on a TikTok account violated his publicity rights, granting legal protection to his voice.
On Wednesday, the Tokyo District Court issued its first acknowledgment that a human voice is a protectable right under Japanese law. Presiding Judge Aya Takahashi described the voice as "symbolic of individual personality, just like one’s portrait" and classified the unauthorized use as an infringement of publicity rights.
The plaintiff, veteran anime voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda—known for his deep baritone as Kento Nanami in *Jujutsu Kaisen*—sued the anonymous operator of a TikTok account called “Nanami.” The account had posted more than 180 videos featuring an AI‑generated voice that sounded like Tsuda, attracting over 200,000 subscribers as of November 2025.
Tsuda sought removal of the videos and compensation, arguing the account profited from his vocal likeness. The court dismissed the request to delete the videos because the TikTok account had already been closed, but it still granted the broader protection of his voice as a publicity right.
The defendant argued the AI voice was not Tsuda’s and caused no reputational harm. The court rejected that argument, emphasizing the commercial appeal of the voice and the intent to exploit it without permission.
Source details: winsfordguardian.co.uk ↗
Why it matters
The decision establishes a precedent that a person’s voice can be treated as a protected personality right in Japan, giving voice actors a new legal tool against AI‑cloned impersonations and signaling to platforms that they may face liability for hosting such content.
The ruling creates a legal framework for protecting vocal identity, an area previously unaddressed in Japanese jurisprudence. This could curb the rapid growth of AI‑generated voice clones that are being used on social media, streaming platforms, and advertising.
By recognizing the voice as a publicity right, the decision may encourage other creators—singers, actors, and influencers—to seek similar protections, potentially leading to a wave of litigation and new licensing models for AI voice technology.
The case arrives amid global debates on AI‑generated content, following high‑profile incidents such as OpenAI pausing a ChatGPT voice after Scarlett Johansson raised concerns and actors Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey signing limited‑use agreements with ElevenLabs.
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What to watch next
Future lawsuits by other voice talent, TikTok’s policy changes, and how Japanese courts apply the ruling to other AI‑generated media will be closely monitored.
Whether TikTok and other platforms will adjust their content‑moderation policies in Japan to proactively remove AI‑cloned voices.
Potential follow‑up lawsuits from other Japanese voice actors or entertainers seeking similar injunctions.
Legislative responses: Japanese lawmakers may consider codifying voice‑right protections or issuing guidelines for AI‑generated media.
Industry reaction: AI voice‑synthesis companies may introduce stricter consent mechanisms or licensing structures to avoid future litigation.