Right of Publicity & AI Likeness Rights Attorney

Artificial intelligence is being used to clone faces, voices, and likenesses at scale — often without the knowledge or consent of the person being copied. California law protects you. Whether you are an actor whose voice was replicated by AI, a performer whose likeness was used to create a digital character, or a public figure whose image was used in generated media you never authorized, you may have a claim.

What Is the Right of Publicity?

California recognizes two forms of the right of publicity: a statutory right under Civil Code 3344, and a broader common law right. Together, they protect your name, voice, signature, photograph, and likeness from being used for commercial purposes without your written consent.

Unlike defamation or copyright, the right of publicity is specifically about identity — your face, your voice, the thing that is distinctly and recognizably you. California law protects living individuals and, under the Celebrity Rights Act, certain deceased individuals as well.

What Counts as a Likeness Violation in the AI Era?

AI has opened troubling new ways to exploit someone identity. Courts and legislators in California are actively grappling with these technologies. Potential violations include:

• Voice cloning — AI-generated audio designed to replicate your voice for commercial or deceptive use
• Deepfakes — synthetic video or imagery placing your likeness in content you never appeared in
• Digital replicas — AI-generated avatars, characters, or virtual representations based on your face or body
• Training data exploitation — using your image or voice as training data to build AI systems that mimic you
• Unauthorized character creation — using your distinctive features to create a fictional character without your knowledge or consent
• Generative AI outputs — images, video, or audio outputs that are recognizably based on your identity

California Deepfake and Digital Replica Laws

California has enacted several laws addressing AI and digital replica use:

• AB 2602 (2024) — Prohibits the use of a digital replica of a performer to replace or substitute for their services without specific contractual protections negotiated with the performer or their representative
• AB 1836 (2024) — Restricts the use of digital replicas of deceased performers without estate consent
• SAG-AFTRA AI provisions — Union agreements now include protections against unauthorized AI use of members likenesses and voices
• California Civil Code Section 3344 and 3344.1 — Core right of publicity statutes covering unauthorized commercial use of name, voice, signature, photograph, and likeness — with statutory damages, attorney fees, and injunctive relief available

Who We Represent

We represent individuals and performers whose likenesses, voices, or identities have been exploited without authorization, including:

• Actors, background performers, and stunt workers
• Voice artists and musicians
• Models, influencers, and content creators
• Public figures and athletes
• Anyone whose likeness carries commercial value
• Families of deceased individuals whose likeness is being exploited

How We Can Help

• Cease and desist letters demanding immediate removal of unauthorized content
• Litigation in California state and federal courts
• Settlement negotiation and fair compensation recovery
• Statutory damages claims under California Civil Code Section 3344
• Emergency injunctive relief to stop ongoing harm