Bill Lee, governor of Tennessee, approved on Thursday a new law aimed at safeguarding the rights of songwriters, performing artists, and other individuals in the music industry against potential threats posed by artificial intelligence technology.
Tennessee, historically known as a hub for country music and a launching pad for many music legends in America and worldwide, is taking a historic step as the first U.S. state to enact such measures, as reported by ABC News.
Supporters of the legislative project, set to be enforced starting July 1st, emphasize that the purpose of this legislation is to ensure that AI technologies cannot mimic an artist’s voice without their permission.
The state governor stated to reporters after signing the law, saying: “In Tennessee, the largest number of individuals work in the music sector compared to other states,” adding that “artists possess intellectual rights, talents, and uniqueness that are personally theirs, and it is essential that their rights are protected against AI technologies.”
Tennessee is one of the three states considering names and photographic images as part of an artist’s property rights, not just advertising rights.
Based on the new law, known as the Sound Likeness and Image Security Act, or the “Elvis Law,” sound likeness will now be included in that list.
The law allows legal action against individuals involved in distributing or performing artists’ audio works without consent, as well as against the use of technologies to generate an artist’s name, image, voice, or any related simulation without the required legal authorization.
However, the website notes that artists eager to protect their artistic works from replication through AI technologies without their consent are eagerly awaiting to see how effective the new laws will be.
Sponsors of this step, including the state governor, acknowledge that despite strong support from music industry workers and unanimous approval by the Tennessee state council, the law has not yet undergone practical implementation.
Nevertheless, many musicians in Tennessee point out they cannot afford to wait for the optimal solution. They highlight that new technology risks like artificial intelligence have begun to emerge on their mobile devices and within the recording studios they own.
Luke Bryan, the famous country singer, said: “I receive material on my phone that I can’t claim doesn’t concern me… It’s now a serious matter, and we hope it will contribute to reducing and minimizing it.”
The website stresses that naming the new law after Elvis Presley was not just a reference to one of the state’s prominent figures.
Elvis Presley’s death in 1977 led to a long legal battle and controversial debates regarding the unauthorized exploitation of his name and image. Many believe that the name and image become public domain upon the celebrity’s demise.
However, in 1984, the legislative authority in Tennessee enacted a law to protect individual rights, affirming that personal rights do not disappear with a person’s death and can be inherited by other individuals.
Overall, this step is crucial in safeguarding Elvis Presley’s property rights. Over the following decades, this action has been appreciated as necessary to preserve the rights of name and image for all prominent figures in Tennessee.
