Tennessee Passes Law Protecting Musicians Against AI

If you have researched or experimented with any artificial intelligence, or maybe have teenagers, you have been exposed to the abilities of artificial intelligence.

The AI programs have the ability to replicate artist's voice into singing songs and saying things they never actually did in person. This is concerning to artists and is being supported by stars like Luke Bryan and Chris Janson.

"This is a serious thing," said Chris Janson.

"Stuff comes in on my phone and I can't tell it's not me," Bryan said.  "It's a real deal now and hopefully this will curb it and slow it down."

The newly signed statute is named Ensuring Likeness, Voice and Image Security Act or the "ELVIS Act." The law adds vocal likeness to the list along with creating a new civil action where people can be held liable if they publish or perform an individual's voice without permission, as well as use a technology to produce an artist's name, photographs, voice or likeness without the proper authorization.

There was theory behind the name other than just to recognize one of music's greatest icons.  The death of Elvis Presley in 1977 brought about a long contentious legal battle over the use of his name and likeness. Many people tried to argue that once a celebrity died, their name and image entered into the public domain.

The Personal Rights Protection Act, enacted in 1984, ensured that personality rights do not stop at death and can be passed on to others. Many of Tennessee's public figures have praised the legislation as it protects the names, photographs, and likenesses.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed the legislation on Thursday while stating his support.

"We employ more people in Tennessee in the music industry than any other state. Artists have intellectual property. They have gifts. They have a uniqueness that is theirs and theirs alone, certainly not artificial intelligence."