Sony Music warns tech companies over ‘unauthorized’ use of its content to train AI

Sony Music Group has despatched letters to greater than 700 tech firms and music streaming companies to warn them to not use its music to coach AI with out express permission. The letter, which was obtained by cryptonoiz, says Sony Music has “purpose to consider” that the recipients of the letter “might have already got made unauthorized makes use of” of its content material. 

Sony Music mentioned that whereas it acknowledges the “important potential” of AI, “unauthorized use of SMG Content material within the coaching, growth or commercialization of AI methods” deprives it and its artists of management and “applicable compensation.”

The corporate’s portfolio of artists contains quite a few notable artists like Harry Types, Beyoncé, Adele and Celine Dion.

Sony Music is looking for to guard its mental property, which incorporates audio and audiovisual recordings, cowl art work, metadata, lyrics and extra. The corporate has not disclosed which 700 firms it’s sending the letter to.

“We assist artists and songwriters taking the lead in embracing new applied sciences in assist of their artwork,” Sony Music mentioned in a press release. “Evolutions in know-how have often shifted the course of artistic industries. AI will seemingly proceed that long-standing development. Nevertheless, that innovation should be sure that songwriters’ and recording artists’ rights, together with copyrights, are revered.”

The letter asks recipients to element which of Sony Music’s songs had been used to coach AI methods, how the songs had been accessed, what number of copies had been made and if any copies nonetheless exist, and why copies existed within the first place. 

Sony Music has given recipients of the letter a deadline to reply, noting that it’ll implement its copyright to the “fullest extent permitted by relevant regulation in all jurisdictions.”

The transfer comes as copyright infringement is turning into a major situation with the rise of generative AI, as streaming companies like Spotify are flooded with AI-generated music. Even artists are dabbling with AI, as Drake confronted criticism after deepfaking the late rapper Tupac earlier this month. 

Final month, California Democratic Consultant Adam Schiff launched new laws within the U.S. Home of Representatives that may, if handed, pressure AI firms to reveal which copyrighted songs they used to coach AI.

In March, Tennessee turned the primary U.S. state to guard artists towards AI after Governor Invoice Lee signed the Guaranteeing Likeness Voice and Picture Safety (ELVIS) Act.