AI Voice Contract Protection: How to Protect Your Voice, Brand & Income

What Every Voice Actor Should Know 

By BRAVA (This article is for general information only and not legal advice.)

The Rise of AI Voice Contracts in Voiceover

From gaming and advertising to e-learning and entertainment, AI tools can now replicate a voice and generate new performances in seconds, making AI voice contract protection more important than ever for working actors.

It’s an exciting but crucial time. As voice cloning and synthetic speech become more common, voice actors need to know how to protect their voice, brand, and income when signing contracts. At BRAVA, we’ve seen AI show up in creative projects across the board. Some are inspiring, others concerning, and all require careful consideration.

Why AI Voice Contract Clauses Matter

AI systems can create a ‘voice model’ or ‘voice font’ trained from your recordings. Once built, that model can be reused to generate new lines without you stepping into the booth again.

Without clear terms or AI voice contract protection, that could mean your voice being used in ways you never agreed to or were paid for.

For working voice actors who don’t have an agent to negotiate on your behalf, this can feel intimidating. However, to meet market demands, there has been an increase in useful advice and resources for VOs without representation, some of which we discuss below.

Real Talent Experience

For those of us at BRAVA with talent agents, we’re seeing that all gaming and commercial contracts we negotiate now include AI clauses that spell out exactly what can (and can’t) be done with our voice data.

But many of you are negotiating VO contracts without agent representation. One BRAVA talent recently shared this example from a gaming project:

“I recently completed a voice acting job for a character in a video game. I recorded an improvised session with the director, capturing as many different reactions as possible, which were then fed into their system to create an AI ‘voice font’ for my character.

It seemed like a great, personalised experience for the player and importantly, the team were happy to fully explain the process and how I would be protected contractually. My voice will only be used for this particular game, cannot be used elsewhere, and there are safeguards in place to prevent my voice being used for sexually explicit language or any speech that promotes hate, violence, or discrimination.”

BRAVA Talent, October 2025

This is what ethical AI use looks like: transparency, consent, and protection.

What to Look For in AI Voice Contracts: Protection & Rights

If you’re looking to negotiate your own contracts, it’s worth knowing what resources are available to guide you. In her recently released AI Voice Deal Checklist, Dr Mathilde Pavis (UK-based legal scholar and performer rights advocate) highlights key questions that you should consider before agreeing to AI voice projects:

• Tools & Technology Which AI system is used, and was it developed in-house or externally?

• Voice Data & Training What recordings train the AI, and will new or existing data be used?

• Ownership & Storage Who owns the voice model, and where/how long is it stored?

• Usage & Moderation Where will the AI voice be used, and are there safeguards against misuse?

• Removal & Termination Can the voice model be removed, and what happens after the project ends?

If you can’t answer all these confidently, pause and ask for clarification. As Dr Pavis says: “Say yes only to safe AI deals that meet your standards.”

Trusted Resources for AI Voice Contract Protection

There are excellent tools and organisations supporting performers through this evolving landscape:

UK-Based Resources

• Equity’s AI Toolkit – Practical guidance and sample clauses for Equity members in the UK.

• Dr Mathilde Pavis’ AI Voice Deal Checklist – A must-read for UK voice actors and agents seeking clarity on AI contract terms.

• BRAVA’s AI Resources & Training – Ongoing live support and discussion within our training sessions to help talent ask questions and navigate AI safely and confidently.

US-Based Resources

• NAVA’s AI Rider (National Association of Voice Actors, USA) – A practical addendum for US performers to include in contracts, designed to safeguard voice data and ensure informed consent in AI and synthetic voice use. 👉 Learn more at NAVA Voices

  Our larger US-based agents are now consistently referencing the NAVA Rider in negotiations for jobs, ensuring their talent are protected and that AI use remains transparent and contractually defined.

BRAVA’s Takeaway on AI Voice Contract Protection

AI is here to stay, but that doesn’t mean your creative identity or livelihood should be at risk. By understanding your rights and negotiating AI clauses that protect your work, you can embrace innovation on your terms.

BRAVA is in regular dialogue with UK and US agents, performer unions, and advocacy groups to keep our talent informed and supported in all areas of AI voice contract protection, as AI continues to evolve across the global voiceover industry. And the resources listed here, both in the UK and US, can help and guide you.

Our advice? If the job is significant enough financially and you currently don’t have agent representation, you can approach a VO agent to negotiate the job on your behalf. That’s always worth a shot.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Always seek professional legal guidance before signing contracts involving AI or voice cloning.

About BRAVA

BRAVA is a UK-based voiceover training and advocacy platform working with talent, agents, and industry partners worldwide to promote ethical AI use and performer rights across the global voiceover community. Click here to find out more about working us.