Legal Considerations for AI-Powered Video Translation – What You Need to Know

Rights to the Original Video

Before translating or dubbing any video, ensure you hold the necessary rights to do so:

• Owned content: If the video was created in-house, you usually hold the rights — assuming all third-party assets (e.g. music, stock footage) are properly licensed.
  
• Third-party content: You’ll need explicit permission to edit, translate, or redistribute — even if it’s just internally.
  
• Client content: Agencies and service providers should confirm that the client has granted rights for localization and any AI-driven adaptations.
  

Reminder: Even for internal videos, copyright still applies.

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Voice Rights & Consent

If real human voices are featured in the original video, several legal questions can arise:

• Consent for voice use: Replacing, cloning, or modifying someone’s voice — especially using AI — may require specific approval.
  
• Voice cloning at Dubly: If you want to keep the original speaker’s voice across languages, you’ll need documented consent. This is especially important for employees, voice actors, or public figures.
  
• Contractual clarity: For external speakers, models, or actors, your agreement should explicitly state what’s allowed — including localization and voice manipulation.
  

Best practice: Always clarify how the voice will be used, modified, and distributed.

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Communicating With Employees

If you’re localizing internal communications, make sure your team knows:

• If their voice will be replaced or altered
  
• If the video will be translated and shared beyond the original scope
  
• That AI technology is being used for adaptation
  

Open, transparent communication — potentially paired with a data processing notice or internal briefing — reduces confusion and builds trust.

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Do AI-Translated Videos Need to Be Labeled?

In most countries, including Germany and the EU, there’s currently no mandatory requirement to label AI-translated or AI-dubbed videos.

However, in certain contexts — such as advertising, news, or scientific content — transparency may be expected.

Examples:

• A CEO message dubbed into French by AI might not legally require a label — but transparency could support authenticity.
  
• In journalism or education, clearly stating that AI dubbing was used may build credibility, especially if audiences expect it.
  

Bottom line: There’s no blanket rule, but disclosure can be a smart move in many contexts.

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Additional Legal Factors to Consider

✅ Data Privacy (GDPR)

• Are you processing personal data (voice, face, speech content)?
  
• Where is the data stored and processed?
  
• Do you offer deletion, access, and logging rights?
  
  

Dubly handles all this with care:

• All data hosted in the EU
  
• Subprocessors governed by SCCs (Standard Contractual Clauses)
  
• Full GDPR compliance, including access and deletion processes
  
  

✅ Music, Branding & Licensed Media

• Are your videos using licensed music, logos, or visual assets?
  
• If so, ensure your license permits redistribution or use in localized versions.
  
  

Don’t assume it’s fine just because you have the rights for the original version.

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✅ Liability for Translations

If your translated video includes legally or commercially sensitive content, you are still responsible for its accuracy — even if AI was used.

Dubly offers Native Speaker Control as an optional review layer for extra precision in sensitive or high-stakes scenarios.

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