全米俳優組合、ダース・ベイダーのＡＩ音声めぐり「フォートナイト」を提訴

【ロサンゼルスＡＦＰ＝時事】全米映画俳優組合「ＳＡＧ－ＡＦＴＲＡ（サグ・アフトラ）」は１９日、ゲーム「フォートナイト」で人工知能（ＡＩ）によりインタラクティブな「ダース・ベイダー」の声を生成したとして、制作会社エピック・ゲームズを提訴したと明らかにした。（写真は資料写真）
　フォートナイトは先週、「スター・ウォーズ」シリーズでダース・ベイダーの声を担当した俳優の故ジェームズ・アール・ジョーンズさんの遺族から許可を得て、ジョーンズさんの声に基づき、ダース・ベイダーのキャラクターを作成したと発表。
　プレーヤーが「マクドナルドでは何を注文する？」と尋ねると、ダース・ベイダーが「帝国にファストフードは不要だ」と叱責し、「そんな料理に耐えなければならないとすれば、『チキンセレクト』とフライドポテトのＬ、コカ・コーラを注文する」と答えるやりとりなどが人気を集めていた。
　だが、ＳＡＧ－ＡＦＴＲＡはこれに不快感を示し、ビデオゲームのＡＩ使用によってパフォーマーの仕事が奪われることになると主張。
　「私たちは、組合員や遺族がデジタル複製の使用を管理する権利を擁護するとともに、新技術の活用も歓迎する」とした上で、「だが、組合員の声の仕事に取って代わる形で声が使用される場合には、その条件について交渉する私たちの権利を守らなければならない。ビデオゲームでダース・ベイダーのあの独特の声のリズムやトーンを再現した場合も含めてだ」と表明した。
　ＳＡＧ－ＡＦＴＲＡは、ゲーム内でのＡＩの使用方法について、エピック・ゲームズの子会社側が交渉に応じなかったと主張。全国労働関係委員会に不当労働行為として申し立てたとしている。
　エピック・ゲームズはＡＦＰの問い合わせには応じなかったが、先週発表した声明では、ジョーンズさんの遺族はこのプロジェクトに満足していると主張していた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2025/05/20-17:30）

An actors' union is suing the makers of the Fortnite video game over the use of AI to create an interactive Darth Vader, it said Monday.
Fortnite announced last week it had got permission from the family of James Earl Jones to make a chatty Star Wars villain based on the late actor's voice work in the smash hit space opera series.
Using AI models, developer Epic Games introduced the Emperor's consigliere into Battle Royale, a player-versus-player version of Fortnite in which squads form to defeat other contestants online.
Users were quick to adopt the Sith Lord on their missions, posting clips of their interactions with one of cinema's most famous bad guys.
Many delighted in the character's apparent wit, laughing as he tells them off for poor technique, or suggesting that they are cheating.
The empire has no need for fast food, he chides one player who asks what his McDonald's order would be.
If I were forced to endure such a culinary experience, I would take a Chicken Selects Meal with large fries and a Coca-Cola drink.
But actors' union SAG-AFTRA was not amused, claiming the use of AI in video games puts performers out of work.
We celebrate the right of our members and their estates to control the use of their digital replicas and welcome the use of new technologies, a statement said Monday.
However, we must protect our right to bargain terms and conditions around uses of voice that replace the work of our members, including those who previously did the work of matching Darth Vader's iconic rhythm and tone in video games.
The union, which says it represents around 160,000 people, says Epic's subsidiary did not talk to its negotiators over how AI would be used in the game.
SAG-AFTRA said it had filed a claim for unfair labor practice with the National Labor Relations Board, a federal agency that protects workers' rights to organize and to negotiate.
Epic Games did not immediately respond to AFP's queries, but a statement released last week cited Jones's family saying they were pleased with the project.
We hope that this collaboration with Fortnite will allow both longtime fans of Darth Vader and newer generations to share in the enjoyment of this iconic character, the family said.
Performers have become concerned about the use of artificial intelligence in films, TV and video games.
Improving technology makes it increasingly possible to digitally recreate the audio and visual likeness of an actor.
The strikes that crippled Hollywood in 2023 stemmed in part from fears that studios would seek to use digital models to replace human performers and creators.
Video game actors began their own strike against major players in the sector in July 2024.