AI Guidelines for Voice Work

UNITED VOICE ARTISTS (UVA)

www.unitedvoiceartists.com

Table of contents
Preamble
I General Contractual Principles
II AI Creation
III AI Usage Compensation
IV Fee Transparency and Clarity
V Further Contractual Guidance

Released May 6, 2024

Preamble

It is the belief of United Voice Artists and its member groups that any work relying on
human connections and emotions should be voiced by human voices. It is our belief that only
humans are able to translate feelings into words and form deep connections with the
audience and listeners. Artificial intelligence (AI) does not understand nor can it replicate the
nuances needed to authentically execute this task.

However, UVA acknowledges that the development of synthetic voices in combination with
AI is unstoppable and therefore needs to be evaluated, guided, and properly valued in order
to give all involved parties a unified basis of calculation and protection against misuse.

The technical ability to create and use AI and synthetic voices has developed at an ever
increasing pace – while artists’ rights are often overlooked. Primarily in Europe the GDPR,
personality rights, copyright, claims for remuneration, liability, etc. protect the artists and
their work while in other countries legal protections vary from non-existent to limited.

In a worst case scenario AI voice technology poses the danger of a complete loss of market
value and self-determination over one's own voice. Therefore, UVA strongly warns all voice
artists worldwide to carefully and diligently review all contracts, in particular with a view to
the use and application of AI in relation to the work performed.

The following guidelines and recommendations are designed to help all participating parties
worldwide (e.g. artists, agents, clients, licensors, licensees, brands, lawyers and lawmakers)
to determine contractual agreements and adequate remuneration for speech projects
involving AI. This document should serve as a guidance for fair negotiations.

Since AI is experiencing an ongoing technological change, the following recommendations

need to be considered with regards of the date of issue of this guideline paper: May 6, 2024

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I. GENERAL CONTRACTUAL PRINCIPLES
With respect to a fair collaboration the following principles shall
underlie any negotiation:

General Consent Principle

The creation of a digital replica of a person’s / artist's voice must always have the person’s /
artist’s explicit consent containing a specific description of the intended use.

Adaptive Pricing Principle

The pricing model must reflect the scope of all the intended use of an artist’s digital voice
replica and take into account all territories in which the replica will be used.

Buyout Restriction Principle

Completely unrestricted and unlimited rights of use of an artist’s digital voice replica must
never be agreed to.

Time Restriction Principle

Unlimited rights in perpetuity to create an artist’s digital voice replica must never be cleared
or agreed to.

Opt Out Principle

The voice artist must have the option to cease the use of their voice for AI creation at the
completion of every contractual term. At such time, a complete deletion of the voice
generating data must be guaranteed by the licensee upon request by the artist / licensor and
additionally, the reproduction of such voice or its characteristics needs to be prevented by
adequate technical means.

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Blended Voices / Morphing Principle
With regard to traceability, personality / publicity rights and codetermination blended voices
/ morphing is strongly disfavored by voice artists. If agreed upon, each artist whose voice
makes up any part of the blended voice should be compensated fully, not partially, must
keep the full right of consent, and should in all circumstances be in a position to control the
repertoire in which the blended voice will be used.

Unique Language Principle

To preserve international markets and language culture, AI generated voice translations
should not be agreed upon.

Marketplace Principle
To avoid price dumping through low wage standards in international markets, the voice
artist must at minimum be compensated by the wage standards of the country of
publication / usage.

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II. AI CREATION
In order for AI systems to create artificial voices an artist’s original voice must be
synthesized at one point.

The Neural Learning Fee (II. A.) and the Compensation For Creating Training Material (II. B.)
should be thought of as single payments, whereas the Listing Fee (II. C.) should be thought
of as a recurring (monthly) payment.

These fees however only compensate for the artist’s input into the AI system, studio work or
listing of digital voice services. They do not clear any usage rights! Usage must always be
compensated additionally.

II. A.
Neural Learning Fee
For feeding the artist’s ‘voice identity’ or ‘voice print’ into the provider’s neural system (e.g.
Open AI, Eleven Labs etc.), the voice artist must be compensated with a so-called “Neural
Learning Fee” no matter if pre-recorded material is used or the voice artist invests extra
studio time.

For better understanding:

By supplying professional, high quality voice samples, the neural system experiences a
general learning process which can never be withdrawn once inserted, even if the specific
character parameters of one’s voice are erased. This learning experience feeds on the ‘voice
identity’ of a voice artist (professional expertise, craft, tone, timing, breathing, pressure,
character, experience of life, humor, charm, lovability, personality, etc.) and extends the idea
of “just learning to imitate” a specific sound of a voice. Therefore the Neural Learning Fee
has to compensate for this plethora of knowledge and the potential long-term loss of
income for the artist.

When determining the amount of the Neural Learning Fee one should take into account at
least one year’s income.

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II. B.
Compensation for Creating Training Material
If the voice artist needs to invest extra studio time to produce individualized audio for the AI
learning process, he or she should be compensated by an hourly or daily fee based on local
contractual standards.

II. C.
Listing Fee
Selling or Reselling of Digital Voice Replicas

Eventually, evolving markets might list digital voice replicas (i.e. recording studios, voice
databases) to offer their AI services without the active participation of the original voice
artist. Such digital voice replicas must be authorized by the respective artists and separately
compensated prior to their voice being listed.

In such cases a so-called “Listing Fee” must be agreed to, which authorizes the licensee to
display the digital replica of the artist’s voice and offer their services. The rights to the digital
replica shall remain at all times with the original voice artist. The Listing Fee does not
include any usage rights. All usage needs to be negotiated and licensed separately from the
listing or training.

The Listing Fee should be a mutually agreed upon monthly payment.

The set up of a Listing Fee must always be accompanied by a contract that specifies all
details of the collaboration, the usage fees, and strict transparency agreements concerning
the monitoring of the created outputs of a voice.

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III. AI USAGE COMPENSATION
AI can be utilized across all aspects of the voice acting profession. However, the
compensation for voice artists is based on the sale of usage rights, which are not
altered by the use of AI. Thus, while the production process may change with AI
integration, the compensation should remain the same:
Usage is usage.

The artist who provides their voice for a digital replica retains the rights to it and should be
compensated based on the extent of the digital replica's use.

The method of creation – whether the output is human-recorded or AI-generated – should

not affect the compensation for usage rights, as the value and concept of these rights remain
unchanged.

Most countries currently have established fee structures for usage rights and those rights
continue to apply to AI and synthetically created voices and digital replicas.

Given the broad spectrum of requests, ranging from advertising and system / object voices
to audiobooks and beyond, it is crucial to thoroughly understand and apply the General
Contractual Principles outlined in Section I to determine fair compensation for usage.

If a digital replica's quality sufficiently meets a client's needs to represent their brand,
product, content, or output using this AI-generated voice, then there is no justification for
compensating the original artist differently.

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IV. Fee Transparency and Clarity
Remuneration Components and Calculation Overview

With the use of AI, fee structures and fee components become more complex. Therefore, it is
of importance to agree and govern any fee structure and its components very specifically
and clearly in contracts to enable the highest level of transparency for all parties.

Depending on the agreement between the voice artists and its clients and the scope of
services to be provided by voice artists, the following fee components shall be considered
and specifically determined in contracts:

Fee Component Description Structure

Neural Learning Fee Compensation for extraction of the artist’s One time fee.
(II.A.) ‘voice identity’ or ‘voice print’ to the provider’s
neural system (e.g. Open AI, Eleven Labs etc.).

Compensation for Compensation for production of individualized One time fee.

audio for an AI learning process, based on time
Creating Training Content
required (hourly or daily fee).
(II.B.)

Listing Fee Compensation for authorizing a licensee to Recurring Fee

(II.C.) display the digital replica of an artist’s voice (e.g. monthly).
and offer their services.

Usage Compensation Compensation for the extent of the digital voice Individual.
(III.) replica's use.

Total Compensation Total compensation the voice artist receives.

(II.A. + II.B. + II.C. + III.)

In order to ensure the same understanding of compensation and its calculation, attaching
sample calculations, potentially for different scenarios as well, in contract annexes may be
helpful to ensure alignment.

The fee components in these guidelines are suggestions and recommendations of important
aspects to consider from our experience in the past and possible future use cases, but are
not meant to be complete and do not substitute any legal advice on the terms of the
proposed contract. Additional fees and compensation components may be justified,
depending on an individual case by case basis.

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V. FURTHER CONTRACTUAL GUIDANCE
When negotiating an AI contract the following factors should
be thoroughly considered and included.

V. A.
Legal Aspects

Personality/Publicity Rights - The Right to One's Own Voice

In most jurisdictions a voice actor is specifically protected by personality / publicity rights,
which include the right to one's own voice. This right cannot be transferred, even in the case
of voice replication. The voice actor should thus be able to refuse usage of recordings that
goes beyond the originally agreed upon purpose, even if additional remuneration is offered.

Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights

It should be clearly defined that the artist who “lends” the voice, owns the right to the digital
replica. In the EU, voice actors are protected by copyright and intellectual property rights and
only licenses for usage may be transferred. One should also be aware that AI generated
content is not automatically copyright protected.

Data Protection
The licensee must ensure that the personal data of the voice actor is protected and the voice
actor properly informed. In the EU, data protection is strictly regulated by the General Data
Protection Regulation (GDPR). Aside from clear information as indicated in I. (General
Contractual Principles) the data required for the voice replication and the resulting
information must not be transferred or processed outside of the EU at any time. This means
that the servers on which the AI is hosted and the servers on which the algorithm is located
and the replica is processed should be located in the EU to ensure adequate protection.

Jurisdiction
The jurisdiction stated in the contract must be the voice artist’s country of residence.

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Disclaimer
The voice actor should be exempted from any liability for the content produced with their
digital replica. All liability shall lie with the client, the deployer and AI provider (as defined
under the AI Act). These parties should have liability insurance for this.

V. B.
Contractual Aspects

Consent to New Uses

If the client wants to use the digital replica for a new product, program, function, or extend
the usage in any other way not listed in the original contract, they must obtain the new and
explicit consent of the voice actor in writing as a contract amendment beforehand with a
specific description of the new intended use.

Exclusivity
Exclusivity must be defined precisely. Any form of exclusivity must be taken into account in
the fee, which may well be in the 6-figure range.

Prohibition of naming
In some markets, the right for the voice artist to be named is guaranteed. If it is contractually
agreed upon that the artist will not be named, the loss of value to the artist must be
compensated. This can be estimated at up to 100% of the original fee.

Quality of the digital replica

The voice actor has a vested interest in how well the digital replica imitates their natural
voice and how well it implements language (e.g., phonetics, speech melody, emphasis,
expression). Since a low quality digital replica could damage their reputation, the voice actor
should have the right to approve the final product and demand a more accurate and realistic
speech synthesis before publication.

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Extension of human work
To ensure that AI does not replace the human artist, we strongly advise that a certain
number of spots / works are performed by the original voice actor before automating the
rest.

Specific Products/Programs
The contract should specify exactly for which product, program, platform, character, territory,
time period and language the digital replica may be used and to what extent it is made
available to users. Partially unrestricted use can also be agreed upon. However, a clear
definition is necessary to appropriately determine remuneration and usage rights.

Exclusion of Certain Content & Abuse

The voice actor should have the right to exclude certain types of content. This could be the
use of their voice for political, religious, erotic/pornographic, or other controversial content.
Furthermore, any misuse by any party having access to the digital replica (Provider, Importer,
Distributor, or Deployer as defined under the AI Act) should be prohibited and prosecuted at
their own expense. These parties must bear the duty of care and must inform the voice actor
immediately upon becoming aware of the misuse or use in excluded content.

Concise, Simple, Transparent, and Intelligible Information on Data

Procession
All recording, use or retention of voice data is a form of data processing under most data
privacy regulations in particular the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) under which
it is qualified as sensible data. Hence, explicit information must be provided to voice actors
at the time they sign the agreement through a privacy notice. Also, in most cases, specific
consent should be obtained regarding the data processing involved.

Transparency Principle
NDAs should only be temporary and never be used to undermine standards.
NDAs must never be signed carelessly. They silence the artist and limit their ability to
identify and prosecute unfair business conduct and share their particular circumstances with
the community, the public and the press.

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Contract Language & Governing Law
The contract should be drafted in the voice actor's native language so that the voice actor
can fully understand it – or at least in a bilingual version, where the artist's native language
is the prevailing language. Should it be necessary to have a contract in a different language
(i.e. english) or a bilingual contract, the client / AI Provider should bear the costs for the
translation into the voice actor´s native tongue. Particular attention should also be paid to
the governing law of the contract as it will be key regarding the interpretation and
enforcement of its provisions, particularly regarding rights assignment aspects.

Lawyer & Legal Costs

The voice actor should be granted sufficient time to have the contract reviewed by a lawyer
of their choice. This means fighting the customary practice in the dubbing industry to have
voice artists sign their contract in the studio before or after the recording session. Legal
review and advice on voice artist contracts are indispensable. The client should bear the
costs for this. In any case, each contract must be adapted, completed, and negotiated taking
into account concrete circumstances of each situation, and be supplemented by “standard“
clauses.

DIsclaimer:
These guidelines and recommendations should not be assumed as exhaustive and may be amended from time
to time as legislation regarding database transparency, labeling and traceability is still in development and may
vary in different countries (i.e. the EU AI Act vs laws in the US). Because the application of rules may vary
depending on a voice actor‘s jurisdiction and applicable law, it is recommended to seek legal assistance and to
verify the standards that may have been adopted through the work of local unions and associations

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