Canadian suing TikTok owners for using her voice

Summary

Bev Standing, a voiceover artist, is suing TikTok after discovering that the platform had used her voice without permission. Her voice, taken from old recordings, was used in TikTok’s text-to-speech feature, which reads out messages in posts, including from major brands like McDonald's and KFC. Standing claims the unauthorized use has caused significant harm to her career and reputation, depriving her of control over how her voice is used. The lawsuit seeks damages under copyright law, with potential penalties of $150,000 per infringement, raising important issues for the voiceover industry and digital media platforms.

Takeaways

• 😀 Bev Standing is a voice artist who lends her voice to various projects, including TV commercials, explainer videos, and more.
• 😀 She makes a living by providing voice work for anything where a voice is heard but the person is not seen.
• 😀 Recently, Bev Standing discovered that her voice was being used on TikTok without her knowledge or consent.
• 😀 TikTok users can type messages that are read aloud by a voice, and Bev Standing claims her voice is used in these posts.
• 😀 The voice artist learned about the unauthorized use of her voice when people started sending her TikTok videos saying, 'This is you.'
• 😀 Standing has filed a lawsuit in New York against TikTok, claiming copyright infringement and harm to her reputation.
• 😀 The lawsuit highlights that TikTok's actions deprive Standing of control over how her voice is used, including for controversial content.
• 😀 Standing's lawyer argues that the unauthorized use of her voice violates her copyright, with potential penalties of up to $150,000 per infringement.
• 😀 The lawsuit emphasizes that Standing has no control over what TikTok users might pair her voice with, including vulgar content or corporate promotions.
• 😀 Posts featuring her voice have been used by major brands like McDonald's and KFC, further complicating her situation.
• 😀 Despite attempts to reach out to TikTok for comment, neither Bev Standing nor the news outlet received a response.
• 😀 Standing is determined to protect her rights and prevent other companies from using her work without permission, as it threatens her livelihood.

Q & A

What type of work does Bev Standing do?

Bev Standing is a voice artist who provides voiceovers for TV commercials, online explainers, and other media. She makes a living by lending her voice to various content, including furniture advertisements and cleaning protocol instructions.

How did Bev Standing discover that her voice was being used on TikTok?

Bev Standing found out that her voice was being used on TikTok when users started sending her videos claiming that the voice on the app belonged to her. This led her to realize that TikTok had used her old recordings without her knowledge.

What feature of TikTok used Bev Standing's voice?

Bev Standing's voice was used in TikTok's text-to-speech feature, which reads aloud text messages typed by users in posts.

What is Bev Standing's legal action against TikTok about?

Bev Standing has filed a lawsuit against TikTok for copyright infringement, claiming that the unauthorized use of her voice has caused significant harm to her reputation and livelihood. She seeks compensation for the damages caused.

What does Bev Standing's lawyer argue in the lawsuit?

Bev Standing's lawyer argues that TikTok's use of her voice without permission deprives her of control over her reputation and how her voice is used, and that she is entitled to compensation for the unauthorized use. The lawsuit highlights the potential financial impact and reputational harm.

What is the maximum penalty for copyright infringement in this case?

Under copyright infringement laws, the maximum penalty could be $150,000 per day or per infringement. This could add up quickly given the widespread use of TikTok and the number of posts utilizing her voice.

What concerns does Bev Standing have about how her voice is being used?

Bev Standing is concerned that her voice is being used inappropriately, including in vulgar or promotional content without her consent. She has no control over the context in which her voice is used, which can affect her professional reputation.

How does Bev Standing want her lawsuit to impact the industry?

Bev Standing hopes that her lawsuit will send a message to other companies, big and small, that they cannot use someone's voice without permission. She wants to protect the rights of voice actors and ensure that their work is not exploited.

Has TikTok responded to Bev Standing's claims?

As of the report, TikTok has not responded to Bev Standing's claims, and neither she nor the CBC News team have received a reply from the company after reaching out for comment.

What impact could this case have on the voice acting industry?

This case could set a precedent for the rights of voice actors in the digital age, especially regarding the use of their work in apps and platforms like TikTok. It may lead to stronger protections and clearer agreements on how voice recordings can be used by companies.