At Munck Wilson Mandala, we are avid champions of AI innovation. The rapid growth of AI presents enormous opportunities but also many new legal challenges. In a landmark case that underscores the complexities of AI and digital rights, Munck Wilson Mandala has filed a lawsuit against ElevenLabs, Inc., a leading provider of text-to-speech services. The plaintiffs, renowned voice actors Karissa Vacker and Mark Boyett, along with authors and publishers Brian Larson, Iron Tower Press, Inc., and Vaughn Heppner, allege that ElevenLabs created digital clones of their voices without consent, violating personality rights and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
The complaint alleges that ElevenLabs used these voice clones as their default voices “Bella,” and “Adam,” to promote its services, attracting millions of users and generating significant growth in revenue and market value. This lawsuit could set important precedents for future AI-related litigation, particularly in the areas of personality rights and claims under the DMCA anticircumvention and CMI provisions.
As leaders in the AI legal space, MWM is committed to helping shape a future where AI innovation flourishes responsibly within a balanced legal framework that allows AI to reach its full potential as a force for good that benefits creators, innovators, and society at large.
Stay tuned as we continue to navigate these novel legal challenges. The plaintiffs are represented by Munck Wilson attorneys Michael Wilson, Charles Zerner, and Abby Karol.
