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As artificial intelligence continues to develop at lightning speed, questions of copyright and ownership seem ever more pressing. In a move that could pave the way for the music industry’s relationship with emerging technologies, Sony Music has sent over 700 tech firms a forceful message regarding the unauthorized use of copyrighted works.
In a recent letter, Sony cautioned against training AI systems using label artists’ content, such as songs by Doja Cat, Tyla, and Lil Nas X, without proper permission. The company argued this deprives creators of both compensation and control over how their work is applied. A similar sentiment has guided the music sector’s tightened rules on YouTube, where AI voice clones of artists became a point of discussion last year.
YouTube itself offers AI music generators like Dream Track, raising thought-provoking parallels to human creativity. Likewise, TikTok faced industry backlash early this year after failing to renew deals, temporarily removing Universal Music Group artists from the platform. However, a new agreement was eventually reached, establishing protections around AI applications and new financial avenues linked to e-commerce.
As the legalities of artificial intelligence continue evolving at a dizzying pace, cases like these will undoubtedly help define the relationship between tech and creative works moving forward. Sony’s proactive stance sets an interesting precedent.
