Elvis Presley‘s music rights holders are suing artificial intelligence company Anthropic.
Presley’s case, however, comes amid wider concerns about AI reproducing artists’ voices, images, and creative work without their consent.
From Scarlett Johansson’s dispute over an AI voice to Taylor Swift’s trademark applications, several celebrities have taken different approaches to protecting their identities and careers.
Elvis Presley’s Estate Seeks Nearly $50 Million From Anthropic
The legal fight over Presley’s music centers on allegations that Anthropic used copyrighted songs to train its Claude AI model without authorization.
As Variety reported, entities that own or control rights to the singer’s musical compositions brought the lawsuit. The complaint reportedly covers 274 songs, including classics such as “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “All Shook Up,” and “Don’t Be Cruel.”
The plaintiffs allege that Anthropic copied protected material without permission or payment of licensing fees.
They are seeking about $48.6 million in damages, and the complaint also raises concerns about the removal of copyright information and the alleged circumvention of digital protections.
The lawsuit further claims that Claude can produce material that closely resembles copyrighted songs, potentially undermining the value of the original works.
Anthropic, however, has disputed the allegations and said it intends to defend itself fully. The case remains a legal dispute, and the allegations have not been established as court findings.
Scarlett Johansson Challenged AI Voice Concerns And Deepfakes
Scarlett Johansson is another prominent voice in the debate over using AI to replicate a person’s identity.
In May 2024, the actress spoke out after OpenAI introduced a ChatGPT voice known as Sky, which many listeners compared to her voice in the 2013 film “Her.” Johansson said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had previously approached her about voicing the company’s AI assistant, but she declined.
According to NPR, Johansson said she was shocked by the apparent similarity and sought legal clarification about how the voice had been developed. OpenAI denied that Sky imitated the actress and said another professional actress voiced it. The company subsequently paused the use of Sky.
Johansson later confronted another AI-related issue when a fabricated video featuring her and other Jewish celebrities criticizing Kanye West circulated online.
In a statement reported by The Blast, she condemned the misuse of AI and urged the US government to take action against the technology’s potential for spreading hate speech and misinformation.
Matthew McConaughey Turned To Trademarks To Protect His Identity
Matthew McConaughey, on the other hand, took a different legal approach to protecting himself against unauthorized AI-generated imitations.
In January 2026, The Blast reported that the actor had secured eight trademark approvals covering elements of his voice and likeness. These included audio and visual markers associated with his identity, as well as his famous “Alright, alright, alright” catchphrase from the 1993 film Dazed and Confused.
The move is intended to create additional legal protection around recognizable elements of his public persona. By registering specific audio and visual features, McConaughey’s team is seeking clearer boundaries around how those elements can be used commercially.
Taylor Swift Filed Trademarks Covering Her Voice And Image
Taylor Swift has also taken steps to protect her identity as AI-generated content becomes increasingly convincing.
In April 2026, Swift’s company, TAS Rights Management, filed three trademark applications covering two voice recordings and an image of the singer, Per The Blast.
The voice applications feature Swift saying, “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift” and “Hey, it’s Taylor.” The image application features the singer performing during her Eras Tour.
The filings followed growing concerns about AI-generated content that misrepresents celebrities. Swift had previously become the target of sexually explicit deepfake images that circulated online in January 2024, prompting widespread concern about the difficulty of controlling fabricated content once it spreads.
Gal Gadot Fought To Keep AI Out Of Her Acting Performance
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Gal Gadot has focused on protecting her work even before it reaches audiences, negotiating contractual safeguards against AI interference in her acting performance.
During an appearance on the “Happy Sad Confused ” podcast, Gadot discussed the lengthy negotiations surrounding her upcoming film “Bitcoin”. As The Blast reported, the actress said her lawyers spent six months working through possible AI-related scenarios with the production team.
“We had to protect that, to such an extent that SAG called my lawyers to ask for pointers to update the SAG contract to protect other actors,” Gadot explained.
She also emphasized that her performance in the film remained her own, saying, “As far as the performances, it’s all me.”
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