Dispute over AI clause: Upcoming Netflix Originals without German audio?
Netflix meets resistance from the voice actors' association in its attempt to secure the right to use dubbing recordings for AI training purposes.
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German voice actress Vivien Faber has published a post on the social media platform Threads, stating that German voice actors and actresses have been refusing to work for Netflix since the beginning of January. The cause of the dispute is reportedly a new AI training clause for upcoming projects by the video streaming service.
According to Faber, this will result in films and series on Netflix appearing without German dubbing in the future. Specifically, this concerns original productions (Originals) and exclusive titles where the dubbing is handled by the service. Acquired content is often already delivered with a German dubbing.
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Voice Actors' Association: Netflix Refuses Talks
In a recent statement, the Association of German Voice Actors (VDS) further explains that Netflix's new clauses include, among other things, a rights assignment that would allow the service to use future dubbing recordings for AI training purposes. However, it does not regulate remuneration for this.
When asked, a spokesperson for heise online also stated that they had repeatedly signaled to Netflix their readiness for negotiations to find a solution. These attempts at contact have so far been ignored by the service. The VDS's demand is obvious: "Consent to the processing of personal data for AI training purposes must be voluntary and must not be a prerequisite for employment." Therefore, the VDS is examining the rights assignment from all legal perspectives and supports the voice actors and actresses in their demands.
c't had already conducted an interview with voice actress Ranja Bonalana in mid-last year about why the voice actors' association is calling for comprehensive regulation for AI voices. This article is now freely available.
Bonalana had reported that Netflix initially did not want to dub at all when it launched in the German market. The service thought it could simply release everything in the original version and people would consume it anyway. This approach failed spectacularly.
In April of last year, the association launched the petition "Protect Art from AI", which has since gathered over 90,000 signatures. (nij)
