Voice As Persona: Legal Implications Of AI- Generated Vocal Cloning In The Music Industry
Mr Kaustav Chowdhury, LL.M., KIIT School of Law, Bhubaneswar
ABSTRACT
The human voice is an essential aspect of both individuality and creative identity. The recent developments in the realm of generative AI technology have facilitated realistic voice cloning and resulted in the emergence of numerous AI-generated vocal covers. The mentioned situation demonstrates important weaknesses of the current copyright, personality rights, publicity rights, and performers' rights law.
The concept of “voice as persona” is developed in this article to examine the legal consequences of AI vocal impersonation in the context of the music industry. This study conducts comparative doctrinal research on the literature available between 2024 and 2026 and examines problems such as text-and- data-mining exemptions and audio mining, fragmented right of publicity, insufficient consent and remuneration regimes, identity appropriation, artist unemployment, and the psychological and ethical threats posed by voice creation.
The article further asserts that treating voices as protectable persona will be vital for the establishment of sui generis digital replication rights, incorporation of PRAC3 framework (Privacy, Reputation, Accountability, Consent, Credit, Compensation), and other legislative reforms. This will ensure an equal focus on artistic interests and technology advancement within the context of developing laws on artificial intelligence.
Keywords: Voice as Persona, AI Vocal Cloning, Right of Publicity, Digital Voice Replication, PRAC3 Framework, Music Industry Law
