Sony Music slams tech giants for unauthorised use of stars’ songs

Sony Music, the world’s largest music publisher representing renowned artists like Beyoncé and Adele, has issued letters to technology giants Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, seeking clarification on whether they have utilized its songs for developing artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
These letters, sent to over 700 firms, assert Sony Music’s position against the unauthorized use of its songs for training, developing, or profiting from AI without proper permission.
In its communication, Sony Music expressed concerns that the recipients might have already made unauthorized use of its music for AI purposes. The company has set a deadline for firms to respond and emphasized its commitment to enforcing copyright laws to the fullest extent possible, including adhering to forthcoming regulations like the EU’s AI Act.
Sony Music’s action highlights a broader debate surrounding the use of copyrighted content in AI development. The concern arises from the reliance of AI tools, including those for music generation, on vast datasets that may include copyrighted material owned by entities like Sony Music.
For instance, AI-powered tools may have been trained using copyrighted music to generate new compositions. Sony Music’s complaint underscores the importance of obtaining proper authorization before using copyrighted content for AI training.
The letter from Sony Music requests detailed information from the addressees, including the songs used for AI training, how they were accessed, and the number and duration of any copies made. Sony Music expressed its willingness to negotiate licensing agreements for future use.
However, it remains unclear whether the addressed AI firms have indeed used Sony Music’s copyrighted material for training their AI systems, and if so, whether any legal violations have occurred.
Legal experts point out the ambiguity surrounding copyright infringement in AI training and emphasize the need for lawful access and transparency in data usage. The upcoming EU AI Act is expected to introduce stricter requirements for AI model documentation and data usage, aiming to ensure compliance with copyright laws.
The issue of copyright infringement in AI development is likely to be tested in court, with several ongoing legal cases involving notable figures and entities like Game of Thrones author George RR Martin and Universal Music’s legal action against Antrophic over alleged copyright infringement of song lyrics.
In summary, Sony Music’s actions underscore the importance of respecting copyright laws and obtaining proper authorization when using copyrighted material for AI development.
Source: bbc.com

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