Estonian Actors' Union and Language Institute Agree on Voice Usage Rules

The Estonian Actors' Union and the Estonian Language Institute signed an agreement on 8 June regulating the use of actors' voices and synthetic voices. Research activities and public sector use cases are permitted, but commercial use requires a separate agreement with the union.

The Estonian Actors' Union and the Estonian Language Institute signed an agreement on 8 June establishing clear principles for the use of actors' voices, including synthetic voices created with artificial intelligence.

Under the agreement, the use of voices for research purposes remains permitted, as does their application in public sector services. Commercial use is not entirely prohibited, but it requires a separate agreement with the Estonian Actors' Union.

The agreement is an important step in protecting actors' rights at a time when artificial intelligence is making it increasingly easy to replicate or synthesize someone's voice without the original creator's consent. Clear regulation helps prevent disputes and ensures that actors have a say in how their voices are used.