A digital replica is a realistic, digitally created or manipulated depiction of a real person, usually through their face, voice or both. The term describes the representation. It does not say whether the person authorized its use.
A digital replica makes a real person appear to say or do something in digital media. It can be a generated face, a cloned voice or a combined audiovisual performance. The same technology can support an authorized campaign or an unauthorized impersonation, so the label alone is not proof of permission.
A digital replica can be authorized or unauthorized. That is why “AI-generated” and “licensed” are not synonyms. The first describes how content was made. The second describes whether a rights holder granted permission for the particular use.
| Term | What it tells you | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Digital replica | A real person is realistically depicted or imitated in digital media. | Whether that person agreed to the use. |
| Deepfake | Media was synthetically generated or manipulated to imitate somebody. | The exact production method or legal status in every jurisdiction. |
| Avatar | A digital character or representation is being used. | That it realistically represents a particular person. |
| AI identity licence | A named party received permission for a defined use of a person’s identity. | That every output actually stayed inside that scope. |
| Content provenance | Information about a file’s origin and history is attached or available. | That the depicted person consented. |
The U.S. Copyright Office uses digital replicas as an umbrella for digitally created or manipulated depictions that realistically but falsely depict an individual. Its report also describes gaps and variation in current legal protection. The exact legal position depends on jurisdiction and facts, so this glossary is not legal advice.
Source: U.S. Copyright Office, Copyright and Artificial Intelligence.
For commercial use, the practical evidence chain is more specific than the label “digital replica.” It should identify the real person, the exact asset or model version, the signed terms, the permitted campaign and each resulting output. A general synthetic-media disclosure cannot answer all of those questions.
See AI likeness licensing for the permission layer and content provenance for the evidence layer.
Bring a digital replica campaign briefReview the licensing standard
A digital replica is a realistic digital depiction or imitation of a real person’s face, voice or performance. The term does not establish whether the person authorized the use.
No. A digital replica may be created with the person’s permission. Authorization and evidence are the decisive questions.
No. It may disclose that media is synthetic, but it does not by itself prove who agreed, what use was permitted or whether the licence is still active.
Yes. A licence can grant limited permission for a named party, campaign, format, territory and duration.