Actors Take Legal Action Against AI Voice Generator for Unlicensed Use of Their Voices

A group of voice actors has initiated a lawsuit against Lovo, an AI voice generation company, alleging that their voices were used without consent. The plaintiffs, Linnea Sage, known for voicing Black Cat in the video game Marvel Snap, and Paul Skye Lehrman, who has appeared in productions such as "Blue Bloods" and "New Amsterdam," have filed a comprehensive 37-page class-action suit in the Southern District of New York.

The lawsuit claims that Lovo unlawfully utilized their voices to generate "millions of voiceover productions" without permission or adequate remuneration. Lehrman discovered this misuse during research for an acting role, while Sage was initially compensated $400 by an individual named “tomlsg,” later revealed to be Tom Lee, Lovo's co-founder, to create test scripts for radio ads.

According to the lawsuit, “Lehrman and Sage did not grant Lovo any right to market their voices.” It further asserts that the product offered by Lovo consists of "stolen property"—the voices in question—not legally owned by the company. “Lovo falsely represents that it has the rights to market and sell these voices,” the document claims.

Founded in 2019, Lovo positions itself as a provider of "hyper-realistic" AI voices. Its text-to-speech platform allows users to produce voiceovers for videos utilizing natural language, enhanced by a built-in editor for various media formats, including marketing materials and training videos. The company's website boasts over 2 million users and an extensive catalog of more than 500 voices in 100 languages, sourced from voice actors who receive compensation for their work.

Despite these claims, the class action lawsuit maintains that Sage and Lehrman never agreed to have their voices used on Lovo's platform, nor were they compensated for such usage. The lawsuit emphasizes, "For plaintiffs and other class members who have not agreed to Lovo’s terms, the ongoing unauthorized use of their voices constitutes theft of service and misappropriation."

Furthermore, the actors contend that the unauthorized association with Lovo could lead to violations of their union's rules. As members of SAG-AFTRA, they are prohibited from accepting roles or agreements that fall outside the union's jurisdiction. As Lovo currently holds no such agreement with SAG-AFTRA, the lawsuit posits that the company's actions might involuntarily compromise their union obligations.

In 2020, Sage’s voice was allegedly featured in promotional material aimed at investors, contributing to Lovo's substantial venture capital fundraising. The lawsuit states, “Lovo has raised millions of dollars using Sage’s voice in unauthorized presentations showcasing the company’s technology.”

Meanwhile, Lehrman's voice was reportedly marketed under the pseudonym “Kyle Snow,” a use that Lovo purportedly crafted for promotional content about its Genny voice and video editing platform. The lawsuit insists, “Lovo stole Lehrman’s voice, his protected property, and marketed and sold it as if it were its own,” without any compensation for its use.

The actors are demanding at least $5 million in compensatory damages, plus restitution for the profits Lovo allegedly gained from using their voices unlawfully. The lawsuit describes Lovo's conduct as "knowing," "malicious," and specifically designed to deceive the public for profit, all at the expense of these actors.

Steve Cohen, a partner at Pollock Cohen law firm, which is representing Sage and Lehrman, highlighted the larger issue of unauthorized use of personal likenesses in the tech industry. He noted, “Lehrman and Sage are diligent, emerging actors worried that Lovo's misuse of their voices might jeopardize future opportunities and earnings. This lawsuit represents a significant step in combating the appropriation of individuals' talents, creative contributions, and hard-earned skills.”