Does the narrator of your navigation text have a “voice right"? Is a voice a personal characteristic that falls under the protection of portrait right or should any protection be sought via an alternative route? TomTom had a French man narrate some texts which were then used in the navigation system. The narrator had not given permission for this and saw it as an infringement on his neighbouring rights, portrait rights and his privacy. The District Court of Amsterdam sees this differently, amongst others because the narrator and his voice are not famous or recognisable. Hence, the voice artist could not object to TomTom's use. The appeal to his portrait right (codified in the Dutch copyright Act) was likewise dismissed because a voice is not an image.
Does this also apply for famous voices? Not only exploiting their appearance, famous people often also narrate commercials. Gert Jan Dröge is one example, acting in a series of commercials for Royal Club. These were so hugely successful that the brand asked him to participate in a new series, this time to narrate a number of TV commercials. Dröge refused, however. Royal Club did not give up and used a replacement with an “affected, lofty male voice". Proceedings took place on this at the time (in 1996), not because of the portrait right but because of unfair competition. Even then the standard was set high: according to the Court, Dröge's voice did not contain “such a tone and characteristic expression and certain distinctive character" that the listener of the imitation voice would spontaneously associate it with Dröge. It was also not deemed plausible that the public would think that Dröge had cooperated with the second series, (entirely different type of commercials) merely because he had appeared in the first Royal Club series. A famous voice can invoke protection under certain circumstances but not under portrait right.
Daan van Eek
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office Emerald House Jozef Israëlskade 48-G Amsterdam, the Netherlands t +31 (0)20 - 305 3066 www.hoogenhaak.nl |
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Does the narrator of your navigation text have a “voice right"? Is a voice a personal characteristic that falls under the protection of portrait right or should any protection be sought via an alternative route? TomTom had a French man narrate some texts which were then used in the navigation system. The narrator had not given permission for this and saw it as an infringement on his neighbouring rights, portrait rights and his privacy. The District Court of Amsterdam sees this differently, amongst others because the narrator and his voice are not famous or recognisable. Hence, the voice artist could not object to TomTom's use. The appeal to his portrait right (codified in the Dutch copyright Act) was likewise dismissed because a voice is not an image.
Does this also apply for famous voices? Not only exploiting their appearance, famous people often also narrate commercials. Gert Jan Dröge is one example, acting in a series of commercials for Royal Club. These were so hugely successful that the brand asked him to participate in a new series, this time to narrate a number of TV commercials. Dröge refused, however. Royal Club did not give up and used a replacement with an “affected, lofty male voice". Proceedings took place on this at the time (in 1996), not because of the portrait right but because of unfair competition. Even then the standard was set high: according to the Court, Dröge's voice did not contain “such a tone and characteristic expression and certain distinctive character" that the listener of the imitation voice would spontaneously associate it with Dröge. It was also not deemed plausible that the public would think that Dröge had cooperated with the second series, (entirely different type of commercials) merely because he had appeared in the first Royal Club series. A famous voice can invoke protection under certain circumstances but not under portrait right.
Daan van Eek