TLDR: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is proposing a bill called the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act to protect musicians and songwriters from misused artificial intelligence (AI). The legislation will add artist’s voices to the state’s Protection of Personal Rights law and can be criminally enforced as a Class A misdemeanor. Artists and other exclusive license holders can also sue civilly for damages. The proposed bill has garnered support from numerous industry groups and is part of a larger effort to protect musicians’ rights at both the state and federal level.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is introducing legislation called the ELVIS Act to protect musicians and songwriters from misused artificial intelligence (AI). The bill aims to ensure that AI is used in a way that respects artists’ rights and prevents unauthorized use of their voices and likeness.
As AI technology continues to develop, it has become possible to create “deepfakes” of musicians, imitating their voices and even creating entirely original compositions. The ELVIS Act seeks to address this issue and establish protections for artists in Tennessee.
The proposed legislation will add artist’s voices to the state’s existing Protection of Personal Rights law. It can be enforced criminally as a Class A misdemeanor, and artists and other exclusive license holders can also sue civilly for damages.
Tennessee is home to the music industry and has more workers in the field than any other state. The music industry supports over 61,000 jobs in Tennessee and contributes $5.8 billion to the state’s GDP.
The ELVIS Act has garnered support from numerous industry groups, including the Academy of Country Music, American Association of Independent Music, ASCAP, BMI, and many others. The Recording Academy CEO, Harvey Mason, Jr., has praised the legislation as an important step in protecting musicians from AI deepfakes.
While specifics of the bill are not yet available, it is expected to be sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson. Similar legislation is also being worked on at the federal level by Senator Marsha Blackburn and others.
The proposed bill is part of a larger effort to protect musicians’ rights in the face of advancing AI technology. Current federal laws state that studios can use and create AI-generated music, but in order for a song or lyrics to be protected under copyright, it must be original and cannot be created solely by AI.
Performers’ Rights Organization ASCAP is also working on Capitol Hill to protect musicians’ rights and has submitted comments to the U.S. Copyright Office regarding copyright and generative AI.