Suspicious Minds: Protecting Tennessee Artists From Generative AI

Effective July 1, 2024, a revolutionary new law will protect Tennessee artists and musicians from unethical uses of Artificial Intelligence ("AI"). The unprecedented Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security ("ELVIS") Act greatly expands the reach of Tennessee's Protection of Personal Rights law by creating an enforceable property right in a person's "name, photograph, voice, or likeness." The Tennessee General Assembly passed the ELVIS Act unanimously in response to the growing threat of AI in the music industry. Tennessee is the first state in the nation to add voice protections to its existing state restrictions on the unauthorized use of an individual's likeness. This is not a surprise, as Tennessee is known for its rich and diverse musical culture and artistic heritage. The State Capitol sits in the heart of "Music City," and the music industry contributes $5.8 billion to Tennessee's GDP and supports more than 60,000 jobs and 4,500 music venues across the state.