AI voice cloning of Genshin Characters ends in $112,000 fine
A Chinese court has ordered an AI service provider to pay 750,000 yuan ($112,000) to developer miHoYo for copying character voices from Genshin Impact video game.
The Pudong New Area People’s Court in Shanghai ruled against the undisclosed AI firm after it sold voice conversion packs allowing users to sound like 63 different characters from the popular title, Chinese media outlet The Paper reported.
According to legal filings, the company also used official game illustrations and animations to market its voice-changing software. Users were allowed to preview the character dialogue, and modified images were used as avatars for the digital packs.
MiHoYo originally sought 5mn yuan ($746,000) in damages alongside an immediate injunction. The developer argued the firm’s actions breached copyright laws and constituted unfair competition.
Court analyses voiceprint similarities
The defendant claimed its technology relied on large-scale training models which generated variable results based on individual user input. The firm also argued that individual voice actors, rather than the game developer, should pursue any rights violations.
However, a voiceprint analysis submitted during the trial proved that the vocal characteristics produced by the AI service were nearly identical to the original game audio. The company subsequently admitted in court to mixing a minute of Genshin Impact audio with other materials to train its model.
The court declared the game’s character designs and footage protected art and audiovisual works. The court ruled that the character voices distinguished the title due to its long market presence. Judge found the AI firm’s imitation exceeded reasonable limits and risked deceiving consumers into thinking the service was official.
The initial ruling was issued on June 30 but became final recently after the defendant formally withdrew its appeal. The AI provider was ordered to cease operations related to the infringement immediately.
