To protect intellectual property rights in the voice and visual likeness of individuals, and for other purposes.

Bill Overview

HR 8915, introduced in the 119th Congress and referred to the House Judiciary Committee on May 20, 2026, seeks to protect intellectual property rights in the voice and visual likeness of individuals. The bill is supported by a bipartisan group of co-sponsors.

Purpose and Intent

• To establish legal protections for the voice, image, and visual likeness of real persons.
• Aims to deter misappropriation, manipulation, or unauthorized commercial use of an individual’s voice or likeness, including deepfakes or synthetic representations.
• Seeks to provide a clear legal framework for individuals to control the commercial use of their voice and likeness and to seek remedies when those rights are violated.

Key Provisions and Changes

While the bill text is not provided here, typical elements for this type of legislation may include:
- Prohibitions on creating, selling, distributing, or using a person’s voice or visual likeness for commercial purposes without consent.
- Stronger penalties or civil remedies for violations, including damages, injunctive relief, and potentially statutory damages.
- Definitions of protected “voice” and “visual likeness,” incorporating real-time or synthesized representations (e.g., deepfakes, digital avatars).
- Consent requirements, carve-outs, and possible exception provisions for parody, commentary, or transformative uses.
- Procedures for individuals to enforce rights, including private rights of action and possible administrative or regulatory remedies.
- Possible limitations or requirements for the use of artificial intelligence technologies in reproducing a person’s likeness or voice.
- Safeguards to prevent false claims or abuse of the statute.

Who Would Be Affected

• Individuals whose voices or visual likenesses are used in media, advertising, entertainment, or commercial products without consent.
• Content creators, publishers, advertisers, and tech companies that develop, deploy, or distribute synthetic voice or image technologies.
• Facilities or platforms that host user-generated content, if the bill creates private rights of action against users or platforms for violations.
• Attorneys and courts, due to potential civil actions and enforcement mechanisms.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

• Status: Referred to the House Judiciary Committee (as of May 20, 2026).
• Next steps typically include committee consideration, possible amendments, and votes before moving to the full House for debate and potential passage.
• The bill’s effectiveness would hinge on the legislative process, including any cross-chamber negotiations, potential amendments, and any related regulatory guidance or rulemaking.

Potential Implications

• Enhanced control for individuals over the commercial use of their voice and likeness.
• Increased risk of litigation for entities that use synthetic voices or images without permission.
• Potential impact on advertising, entertainment production, social media platforms, and AI-based media creation.
• Could influence developments in digital rights, privacy, and intellectual property policy, particularly around AI-generated content.

Notes for Readers

• Specific definitions, scope, and exceptions will be critical to understanding practical impact; readers should review the bill’s text for precise language on consent, exemptions (e.g., parody or news reporting), and remedies.
• As the bill progresses, watch for amendments that may alter the scope of protected rights, enforcement mechanisms, and applicable penalties.