Court grants relief to singer Arijit Singh, rules that AI replication of voice violates his “personality rights”

Mumbai:

Providing relief to composer-singer Arijit Singh, the Bombay High Court has stated that AI tools creating content using a celebrity’s voice, image or other characteristics without authorization infringe upon his or her “personality rights”.

Celebrities are especially susceptible to unauthorized content generation through AI tools, the court remarked.

Listening to a plea filed by the renowned singer, Justice R I Chagla in his temporary decision on July 26 prohibited eight online platforms from utilizing Singh’s “personality rights”, and instructed them to eliminate all such content as well as voice alteration tools.

The singer had approached the court alleging that these platforms offer AI tools to produce synthetic audio recordings by imitating his voice, mannerisms and other characteristics.

Arijit Singh has intentionally abstained from any type of brand endorsement or excessive commercialization of his personal traits for many years, his attorney Hiren Kamod stated.

The high court concurred that Singh should be given temporary relief.

“What is alarming to this court is the way in which celebrities, especially performers like the current plaintiff, are at risk of being targeted by unauthorized generative AI content,” the judge remarked.

The freedom of speech and expression permits criticism and commentary but does not authorize the exploitation of a celebrity’s persona for financial gain, Justice Chagla mentioned.

Such tools enable “unauthorized appropriation and manipulation” of a celebrity’s voice, a crucial aspect of their personal identity, Justice Chagla remarked.

In addition, the use of AI technology undermines celebrities’ ability to prevent “misleading uses of their identity,” the HC remarked.

These platforms are encouraging Internet users to create fake audio recordings and videos, it observed.

Singh has earned significant goodwill and reputation throughout a highly successful career, the judge pointed out.

“At first glance, I believe that the plaintiff’s personality traits including his name, voice, photograph/ caricature, image, likeness, persona and other attributes of his personality are protectable elements of his personality rights,” Justice Chagla stated.

Advocate Kamod informed the court that Arijit Singh comes from a small town and has modest beginnings, and now he is one of the most acclaimed singers globally.

The plea, submitted through Legasis Partners, requested protection of his personality rights concerning his name, voice, signatures, photograph, image, caricature, likeness, persona, and various other attributes of his personality against unauthorized/unlicensed commercial exploitation and misuse.

Several YouTube channels were creating memes and GIFs “causing ridicule, embarrassment and humiliation” and impacting the singer’s reputation, it stated.