Voice Cloning Guide: How to use our technology safely
How to use this guide
This guide aims to provide clarity on how to utilize our voice technology in a secure manner, adhere to best practices, and comply with our terms of service. The legal framework surrounding voice cloning can differ based on the origin of the content you intend to repurpose, your geographical location, and your publication venues. This document offers insights into the accepted practices in many countries, emphasizing those in the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Please note that the contents of this guide should not be interpreted as legal counsel.
What do we mean by voice cloning?
The term “voice cloning” refers to the digital replication of an individual’s voice, achieving results that mirror the original with remarkable accuracy.
When employing our voice cloning technology, users upload a voice recording, which our model then processes to produce a digital facsimile. This cloned voice can then be utilized to generate new speech content.
It's crucial to understand that while our technology can craft voices that are eerily reminiscent of the original, they aren’t exact duplicates of the uploaded materials.
Voice cloning : safe use and best practice explained
Voice cloning is permissible under the following three circumstances, with some specified exceptions:
01. Voice cloning is deemed safe when utilizing your own voice and material. The resultant cloned voice can be employed for any intended application.
02. If you're cloning the voice or content of another individual, it's acceptable as long as you have secured their explicit consent. The use of this cloned voice should strictly align with the permissions granted.
03. The waters get murkier when cloning another person’s voice or content without their direct authorization. Such cloning is tentatively permissible for non-commercial objectives, provided it doesn't infringe on the individual's privacy or potential earnings. Acceptable non-commercial endeavors include:
* Academic pursuits or research not driven by profit
* Educational initiatives
* Expressions in the form of caricature, parody, or satire
* Artistic or political discourse that enriches public dialogues
* Referencing or quoting
* Constructive critique and commentary.
A paramount guideline governs all applications of voice cloning technology: cloning a voice for malicious intents, including fraud, discrimination, hate speech, or any type of online harassment, is a direct violation of the law.
Even if you're using your own materials to create a voice clone, or have obtained permissions from others, this guideline still stands firm. Engaging in malicious activities using voice cloning technology can result in criminal charges. As a platform, we may be legally bound to report any illicit or unlawful actions conducted on our platform. Furthermore, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account in such instances.
Ensuring the safe and proper use of voice cloning boils down to a straightforward two-step procedure, which we'll delve into in the subsequent section. For more detailed information, please refer to:
* Voice Cloning: Safeguarding Usage and Upholding Best Practices in Two Steps
* Consequences of Policy Breach
Voice cloning : safe use and best practice in two steps
Using voice cloning technology typically involves a two-stage process: creating the voice clone and then distributing it. Here's a breakdown of each stage, along with some advice to simplify the process.
Step 1 | Crafting Your Voice Clone
To fabricate a voice clone, you'd need three primary components:
*A distinct voice.
*An audio clip of said voice.
*A text input that the system will translate into speech.
Each component can come with its own set of legal rights. A voice might be safeguarded by rights relating to personal data, individuality, publicity, or even performer's rights. The recorded audio might have copyright protections on both the words spoken and the recording itself. Moreover, the text you input can be under copyright protection as well.
If you're utilizing your own voice, your own recording, and your own text, there's generally no issue. As the originator, you'd have the rights over your creations.
However, if you're considering using someone else's content, it's essential to ensure you have the rights to use it. This might mean getting explicit permission from the original creator or checking whether there's a legal provision allowing you to use the content without such permission.
For a deeper understanding, you can refer to:
* Determining Rights in the Materials You Utilize
* How to Appropriately Seek Permission
* Circumstances Where You Can Use Content Without Direct Authorization.
Step 2 | Distributing Your Voice Clone
Acknowledge the Original Sources
Acknowledge the Original Sources
When acknowledging sources, specificity matters. Highlight the individual whose voice was cloned, the person(s) behind the production and editing of the sound clips, and the author of the text that was employed to generate the new speech.
For those who use the standard voices on our complimentary tier, ElevenLabs must also be credited upon sharing your voice clone. For a comprehensive understanding, you can refer to:
* Properly Crediting Your Source Materials.
Indicate Manipulated Content
Clearly state that your voice replica is a product of digital manipulation and therefore doesn't serve as a genuine recording of the mimicked voice.
When you share your voice replica, you can highlight this by adding a disclaimer in the accompanying text or visuals – for instance, simply noting that your content is AI-produced. Another method is to incorporate this disclaimer directly into the voice replica, having it voiced at the beginning or conclusion by including it in the script you provide.
Declare Your Rights and Permissions
Your voice replica might possess enough originality to be safeguarded by intellectual property laws. Should that be the case, you could have the exclusive rights over it. Similarly, if you've crafted other original content, such as the scripts that initiate new dialogues, you might have rights over those too.
It's beneficial to clarify the permissions and rights associated with your voice replica when shared. If you wish for the broader public to access and use it, make that known!
Elaborate on any stipulations regarding its usage. For instance, are you comfortable with individuals employing your voice replica for both business-related and personal endeavors? Can others adapt or repurpose your voice replica? Would you like acknowledgment for its creation?
If you decide to replicate your voice and distribute it under an open license, that license might enable others to replicate your voice for additional content creation. If you'd rather this not occur, ensure you limit this permission within your licensing terms.
Please note, while you retain rights to your content, you grant us licensing rights to any materials (voice replicas included) when they're uploaded or linked to our platforms. For a comprehensive understanding, refer to our terms of service.
For additional information, check out:
* How can I declare my rights and permissions for the voice replica?
Q & A and tips
How do I find out if rights apply in the source materials I want to use?
Intellectual property laws cover a vast majority of the content we produce today. Many of these rights emerge automatically upon the creation of new content, without any need for registration. Moreover, these rights can endure for an extended period, with copyrights, for instance, persisting for the creator's life plus an additional seventy years after their passing.
Due to this, it's a good rule of thumb to assume that a significant portion of the content you encounter, whether it's text, imagery, or audio, is shielded by these rights and owned by its creators. Should you wish to replicate or use their voice or content, permission is required.
There are some exceptions, though. If your intent in voice cloning is academic research, educational purposes, satirical or parodic representations, direct quotations, reviews, criticisms, or adding to public discussions, you might not need prior consent. However, if your endeavors yield commercial gains or might negatively affect the original creator's financial prospects, these exceptions might not hold.
It's essential to recognize that a person's voice might be seen as personal data under legal frameworks. Use of such personal data demands either the individual's consent or a valid reason that respects their privacy rights, like contributing to public discussions.
Not all content falls under these protective laws, however. Content that's not legally protected, known as "public domain" content, is open for any form of reuse, including voice cloning. The public domain encompasses:
* Materials naturally outside legal protection like common knowledge, raw facts, or non-distinctive content.
* Works for which the protective period has concluded.
* Content its creators have willingly allocated to the public domain.
Various online platforms and digital archives, like Creative Commons Archives or Librivox, offer a treasure trove of public domain materials, making them great resources if you're on the hunt for content available for unrestricted use.
How do I ask for permission to use other people’s content?
Obtaining consent is essential when leveraging another individual's voice or content, especially in voice cloning technologies.
Reach out to the original creator or rights holder of the content or voice in question. Clearly communicate the specifics of the materials you wish to use, your intended application, and your distribution plans for the cloned voice. If they're amenable to your proposal, you're free to proceed.
Many creators offer licenses to their works, sometimes in exchange for compensation. Such fees can be negotiated based on the significance of their content to your project, the extent and duration of your usage, and your available budget.
To safeguard both parties, it's advisable to secure permissions in a tangible format, be it emails, messages on social platforms, or texts. Retaining a copy of this consent can be invaluable for future reference or validation.
When can I use other people’s voice or content without their permission?
There are instances where you might be permitted to use another person's voice or content (such as text or audio recordings) without obtaining their explicit consent. However, these exceptions are only applicable under specific scenarios, including:
* Personal study and non-commercial research.
* Educational purposes.
* Creation of caricatures, parodies, and satires.
* Artistic and political expression contributing to public discourse.
* Direct quotations.
* Critical evaluations and reviews.
If you intend to utilize someone's voice or content without their permission, it's crucial to adhere to stringent conditions:
Purpose & Definition:
Ensure that your use of voice cloning aligns with the legal interpretations of the terms like “personal use and private research,” “education,” “parody and satire,” and “artistic or political expression.” Each term has specific legal definitions, which we'll elaborate on below.
Economic & Reputational Impact:
Your cloned voice or content must not adversely affect the original creator's financial prospects or damage their reputation.
Legal & Ethical Constraints:
Your cloned voice must steer clear of content that promotes harm, discrimination, or hate, as defined by law. Additionally, the privacy of the individual whose voice you're replicating should remain uncompromised.
Remember, it's always a good practice to credit the original sources and be transparent if the content has undergone any alterations. For further details, refer to sections titled 'Credit your source materials' and 'Disclose content manipulation'.
Use of voice or content for private study and non-commercial research
You're allowed to utilize someone's voice or content for personal learning and non-commercial research without seeking their consent.
"Private study" pertains to the act of acquiring new information, while "research" is the endeavor to delve deeper with the aim of producing new insights. These two often go hand in hand.
However, it's essential not to distribute the cloned voice to others or derive any form of commercial benefit, be it direct or indirect, from these activities. If you intend to do so, obtaining permission from the rights holders of the materials in use is mandatory.
For instance, a student might input an academic article into a system to produce a voice clone that reads out the text. This enables them to audibly engage with an article assigned by their instructor. In doing so, the student doesn't need the author's consent and can choose from a variety of voices for the narration. However, sharing this voice clone with peers or friends would require permissions from both the paper's and the voice's rights holders.
Use of voice or content for education
Educational institutions can utilize content without needing to obtain consent from the rights holders, provided it's for instructional purposes.
Such institutions have the leeway to use voices of individuals who, by the nature of their public presence, can reasonably anticipate their voices to be replicated or repurposed, such as celebrities or performers.
However, it's important to note that this provision is valid only when the educational services are offered without any commercial intent.
For instance, an instructor might produce a voice clone to audibly present a poem to her students during a lesson. She can opt for the voice of any notable public figure for the narration. In this scenario, there's no obligation to get approvals from the poet or the publisher to utilize the content in such a manner. However, the instructor should refrain from distributing the voice clone beyond the confines of her classroom instruction. Furthermore, it's imperative for the instructor to inform her students that the content was created using voice cloning technology.
Use of voice or content for caricature, parody and satire
Voice cloning technology can be employed to craft caricatures, parodies, or satires of an individual or the content they've produced. This is especially relevant for voices of those, such as public figures, who might naturally anticipate their voices to be parodied or imitated.
However, the resulting voice clone should be distinct enough from the original and should unmistakably convey its intent as a caricature, parody, or satire. It's essential that the voice clone embodies a tone of humor or jest to be identified as such. Remember, these caricatures, parodies, or satires should not be used as vehicles for spreading discriminatory views, hate speech, or any other harmful content.
For instance, an online user could produce a voice clone mimicking political personalities such as former US President Donald Trump or French President Emmanuel Macron without seeking their consent. The voice clone should exude humor or jest, making it evident to the audience that it's a parody rather than genuine content. This user is permitted to share the voice clone, but they should clarify that the parody was crafted using voice cloning technology.
Use of voice or content criticism or review
Utilizing someone's voice or content for the purpose of criticism or review doesn't necessitate obtaining their consent. However, the original materials should be accessible to the public before being integrated into your voice clone for such purposes.
Your voice clone is free to discuss any part of the original materials or express robust disapproval of the content, provided that the comments don't veer into defamation.
For instance, a movie reviewer might craft a voice clone using the lead actor's voice to narrate his critique. He can also incorporate lines from the movie for this cloned voice. Whether praising or critiquing the film or the actor's performance, the reviewer must steer clear of defamatory remarks or unjustly harming the actor's or anyone else's reputation mentioned in the voice clone. It's essential that he specifies the review was articulated using voice cloning technology.
Use of voice or content for quotation
You have the latitude to incorporate brief snippets of someone's content into your voice clone without needing their approval.
This primarily pertains to the text that stimulates new speech in your voice clone, which might be composed of quotations from various texts, such as books, song lyrics, or newspapers.
Current legal frameworks leave some ambiguity regarding the utilization of short segments of another individual's voice without consent. There's a potential to cite the voices of UK-based artists and public personalities who don't possess personality rights or equivalent in other nations. However, determining the possession of such rights outside the UK can be challenging.
Given these uncertainties, it's prudent to sidestep using someone's voice without their explicit consent. A more secure approach would be to employ your voice, utilize one of ElevenLab's preset voices, or obtain permission from the concerned individual before embedding their voice in your voice clone.
Use of voice or content for artistic or political speech of public interest
You are permitted to use another individual's voice or content without their consent if your voice clone plays a role in public discourse, potentially qualifying as an exercise of "free speech".
However, if your voice clone yields direct or indirect commercial advantages, it shifts into the realm of "commercial speech", thereby removing it from the protections of "free speech".
It's crucial to recognize that the free speech privilege is not unlimited. It must be weighed against the privacy rights and intellectual property considerations of those whose voice or content you're leveraging.
For instance, a reporter might create a voice clone to vocalize their stance in a climate change discussion, employing the voices of various politicians to highlight differing viewpoints. They can draw from reports, books, or articles to stimulate fresh dialogue within the voice clone. Leveraging the politicians' voices is permissible, provided it's pertinent to the articulated argument. Importantly, the reporter should clearly state that the narrative was produced using voice cloning technology.
How do I credit my source materials?
"Crediting your sources" refers to acknowledging the creator of the materials utilized in generating your voice clone.
To credit someone, you associate their name with the content they've produced.
For instance, you might state: Utilized content for this generation includes:
* Sound and recording by OnePlusFour
* Voice and performance by Aysha Shorm
* Text composed by Barry Real
Incorporate these credits by:
01. Including the details in text or images accompanying the published voice clone.
02. Embedding this information within the voice clone, by integrating it into the prompting text for new speech.
03. Inserting it into the metadata of your voice clone.
In this recording, acknowledgments go to:
Synthetic voice & sound production by ElevenLabs
Text extracted from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
How do I communicate my own rights and permissions in the voice clone?
Declaring your rights and permissions" involves specifying the rights you hold over the materials, including your voice clone, and detailing the permissions (if any) you grant others to repurpose your content.
Convey this information alongside the voice clone, whether in accompanying text, images, or within the voice clone itself.
To ensure others respect your rights in the voice clone and seek your consent for reuse, consider stating:
Voice clone rights reserved. Created and owned by [your name].
If you're open to allowing others to repurpose your voice clone freely without prior consent, communicate this. By doing so, you're essentially offering a gratis license to prospective users.
Here are potential license formats:
Voice clone rights reserved. Created and owned by [your name].
OR Voice clone rights reserved. Created and owned by [your name]. Permission granted for non-commercial use with proper acknowledgment.
OR Voice clone rights reserved. Created and owned by [your name]. Available for any use, provided acknowledgment is given.
OR Voice clone rights reserved. Created and owned by [your name]. Usable for any intent, no acknowledgment needed.
OR Voice clone rights reserved. Created and owned by [your name]. Voice clone dedicated to the public domain; acknowledgment not necessary.
If you've cloned your own voice, you might permit others to reuse your clone with the stipulation that they can't further clone your voice to produce new content. This limitation can be indicated in your license. For instance:
Voice clone rights reserved. Created and owned by [your name]. Permitted for non-commercial use with acknowledgment. This does not grant permission for further voice cloning or synthesization.
You're free to customize your license's conditions based on your project's needs.
Explore tools provided by Creative Commons for inspiration on license terms.
Creative Commons has developed intuitive icons and resources to express permissions for repurposing materials. These are beneficial as they're widely recognized by the public.
What happens if you violate our policies?
Please review our terms of service for our detailed policies.
Should you breach our policies or terms of service, your account may face suspension or termination. Such actions could result in the loss of access to projects associated with your account, and we may prohibit you from establishing a new account.
Any unlawful activities may be reported to the relevant legal authorities, and we may collaborate with them on subsequent measures.