In a landmark ruling, a U.S. District Judge has permitted voice-over artists Paul Skye Lehrman and Linnea Sage to continue their lawsuit against Lovo Inc., a California-based artificial intelligence voice startup. The artists' claims center on allegations that their voices were improperly utilized for AI training without consent, despite the judge dismissing their federal copyright claims.
Federal Judge Allows AI Voice Lawsuit by Artists to Proceed
Federal Judge Allows AI Voice Lawsuit by Artists to Proceed
A federal court decision paves the way for a class action from artists alleging misuse of their voices by an AI startup.
The couple's legal action emerged following a shocking discovery: alleged clones of their voices were made available on Lovo's text-to-speech platform, Genny. After being approached for voice work, they were assured their recordings would remain confidential for internal use only. Despite this, they later encountered their voices being used publicly, including in advertisements, which prompted their legal response.
The pair filed their class action suit in 2024 after hearing an AI chatbot, purporting to mimic their voice, on a podcast discussing the implications of AI in Hollywood. Mr. Lehrman recounted the eerie moment, prompting a visceral reaction as they realized the potential threats posed by AI to their artistry.
Although Lovo has maintained that the artists' claims were unfounded, the remaining allegations of deceptive practices and breach of contract have been allowed to move forward. The decision has been hailed as a significant moment in the ongoing debate over the rights of creators in the age of AI, with attorneys expressing confidence in securing accountability from tech companies. The case continues to unfold in the U.S. District Court for Manhattan, capturing the attention of many in the industry.
The pair filed their class action suit in 2024 after hearing an AI chatbot, purporting to mimic their voice, on a podcast discussing the implications of AI in Hollywood. Mr. Lehrman recounted the eerie moment, prompting a visceral reaction as they realized the potential threats posed by AI to their artistry.
Although Lovo has maintained that the artists' claims were unfounded, the remaining allegations of deceptive practices and breach of contract have been allowed to move forward. The decision has been hailed as a significant moment in the ongoing debate over the rights of creators in the age of AI, with attorneys expressing confidence in securing accountability from tech companies. The case continues to unfold in the U.S. District Court for Manhattan, capturing the attention of many in the industry.
