1. Sony Music Group sent letters to over 700 tech companies and music streaming services warning against using its music to train AI without permission.
2. Sony Music is concerned that unauthorized use of its content for AI development deprives artists of control and compensation.
3. Sony Music is seeking to protect its intellectual property by requesting detailed information from recipients of the letter and enforcing copyright to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Sony Music Group has sent letters to over 700 tech companies and music streaming services warning them not to use its music to train AI without permission. The company believes unauthorized use of its content for AI development deprives both Sony Music and its artists of control and compensation. Sony Music’s artist roster includes high-profile artists like Beyoncé, Adele, and Harry Styles.
Sony Music is seeking to protect its intellectual property, such as audio recordings, cover artwork, lyrics, and more. The company has not disclosed the recipients of the letters, but is asking them to provide details on how Sony Music songs were used to train AI systems. Recipients of the letters must respond by a specified deadline or risk facing copyright enforcement measures.
The move by Sony Music comes as copyright infringement becomes a concern with the proliferation of generative AI. Streaming services like Spotify are seeing an influx of AI-generated music, and even artists like Drake have faced criticism for using AI to deepfake deceased artists. Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to require AI companies to disclose which copyrighted songs they use for training, and Tennessee recently passed a law protecting artists against AI misuse with the ELVIS Act. Sony Music plans to enforce its copyright to the fullest extent to protect the rights of its artists.