The Musicians’ Union (MU) cautions that current UK copyright law does not cover the unauthorized digital replication of a performer’s image or voice, a gap that AI‑generated deepfakes and voice‑cloning technologies are exploiting.
According to the MU, the UK provides no specific legal protection for a person’s digital likeness, unlike several other countries that have enacted personality‑right statutes covering image, voice, name and related attributes.
Examples from abroad illustrate the potential impact. In India, a court upheld a Bollywood singer’s claim against a company that cloned his voice and used his likeness without permission, ordering the removal of infringing material. The ruling recognized protection for the artist’s name, vocal style, mannerisms and image.
Domestic precedents such as a passing‑off claim by a pop star against a retailer that printed her face on a T‑shirt show that common‑law remedies can address some misuse, but the MU notes that copyright only safeguards specific recordings, not a performer’s voice in general.
Recent incidents include AI‑generated songs mimicking well‑known artists and a folk singer whose YouTube performances were turned into unauthorized AI covers that appeared on streaming services, prompting a prolonged takedown effort.
The union argues that introducing personality rights could give UK musicians greater control over their digital selves as AI technology advances.
For more information, visit musiciansunion.org.uk.