Meloni registers voice as trademark to fight deepfakes
On the website of the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO, European Union Intellectual Property Office) there was information about the application for registration of the vote of Italian Prime Minister Georgie Meloni as a trademark. As indicated on the website, the application is under consideration.
On the website of the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO, European Union Intellectual Property Office) there was information about the application for registration of the vote of Italian Prime Minister Georgie Meloni as a trademark. As indicated on the website, the application is under consideration.
According to La Repubblica, the Prime Minister sent a four-second recording for registration, on which she utters the phrase “I am George Meloni” twice. Meloni is registering her voice to prevent its misuse by AI tools and deepfakes.
Under EU law, once registered with the EUIPO, any unlawful use of the Prime Minister’s vote will amount to copyright infringement. This would allow Ms Meloni to sue violators in any EU country as registration is valid across the union. In some European countries, anyone who creates viral videos, makes clips with words that have not been uttered, or profits from using distinctive voice traits is facing a criminal offence. In Italy, in the most serious cases, such acts can result in imprisonment.
George Meloni has not yet commented on the situation.
Andrei Kelekeev
