this is also altering faces and mouth movements to match the new spoken words.

? They can patent it the way patents have always worked: Unique processes. Patents are not for vague ideas, they are for specific processes.

For example: 'The Steam engine' was never patented—anyone can make energy from steam and sell that. What was patented was a specific way of creating energy via steam, and you can't use that method without infringing on IP.