UK AI Law and How to Protect Your Voice, with Dr Mathilde Pavis

In this episode Melissa talks to Dr Mathilde Pavis, an expert in intellectual property law, ethics and new technologies, who helped build Equity’s AI toolkit and has worked directly with AI platforms including ElevenLabs. Melissa asks her why the UK currently has no personality right for voice, how that compares to other countries, and whether the law is catching up in time. The real value here is practical: exactly what to check, ask and do to protect your own voice, as things stand today. The landscape is changing fast, so staying informed matters more than ever. What we cover Why recorded voices are suddenly so valuable, and why that leaves performers and workers exposed The UK’s patchwork of protections, and how buyout contracts and platform terms can waive them How to protect yourself now: read contracts and terms, search them for “rights”, “waive” and “AI”, ask for carve-outs against cloning and AI training, and opt out of platform data-use settings (or contact support) Digital twin dealbreakers: ask early whether AI will be used, and make sure any replica is project-specific, time-bound and agreed in writing. Know who builds it, who uses it and who can access it, prevent it being sold on, and secure the right to have it deleted How the UK compares with the US, the EU and Denmark, and why UK policy keeps stalling Chapters 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:06 Mathilde’s Background 01:53 Why Voice Is Valuable Now 03:40 Workplace Voice Protection 07:00 AI Clauses and Transparency 08:07 Performers and UK Patchwork Rights 11:22 Contracts and Consent Basics 12:48 Pay-to-Play Platform Risks 17:35 Opting Out and Taking Action 19:29 Why UK Law Falls Short 24:21 Digital Replica vs Personality Rights 29:17 UK vs US and EU Protections 31:22 EU Transparency Rules 33:37 Denmark Leads on Likeness 36:14 Contracts Need Safeguards 37:47 Why UK Policy Stalls 40:02 Consent and Data Rights 42:13 Is It Too Late? 43:57 Workplace Voice Precautions 45:08 Performer Contract Basics 47:39 Digital Twin Dealbreakers 53:05 AI Riders and Agents 55:40 Final Takeaways and the Future Explore the episode companion notes here... Links & Resources Dr Mathilde Pavis Dr Mathilde Pavis, Legal Counsel & Policy Adviser on AI: https://www.mathildepavis.com/ Agents Counsel: https://www.agentscounsel.com Free resources for agents: https://www.agentscounsel.com/resources Policy UK Government Report on Copyright and AI (18 March 2026), Impact Assessment: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-and-impact-assessment-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence/copyright-and-artificial-intelligence-impact-assessment Unions, associations and campaigns Equity AI toolkit and template contract: https://www.equity.org.uk/advice-and-support/know-your-rights/ai-toolkit/understanding-ai (see also Episode 2, Cloned Without Consent, with voice actor Faye Dicker and Equity’s Shannon Sailing: https://www.brava.uk.com/podcast/episode/1bb455dd/cloned-without-consent-with-voice-actor-faye-dicker-and-equitys-shannon-sailing ) NAVA (US), National Association of Voice Actors: https://navavoices.org/ Save Our Voices Now: https://saveourvoicesnow.com/ ‌ BRAVA https://www.brava.uk.com/ Sign up to the BRAVA newsletter https://www.brava.uk.com/subscribe This is Season 4 of HIGH NOTES. Where every conversation is a performance. ‌ **This episode is for general information and isn’t legal advice. For your own situation, speak to a lawyer, your agent or your union.** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.