Japan Considers Legal Protection for Voices and Likenesses

Oct 19, 2026
Japan's industry ministry is considering whether to protect personal attributes such as voices and likenesses from unauthorized AI replication under competition law.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is considering legal protections for voices and likenesses copied with generative AI, reports NHK World. The ministry may classify these personal attributes as protected assets under the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.

The proposal follows a Tokyo District Court ruling that recognized a person's voice as protectable under publicity rights. The court found that unauthorized voice reproductions could infringe the right of public figures to control commercial use of their identity.

The ruling came after Japanese voice actor Tsuda Kenjiro sued the operator of a video sharing app over a replica of his voice. The ministry plans to discuss the proposed protections with an expert panel.

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