Chris Hawkes’ Post

(Forbes) In order for generative AI systems to work, they need training data. And in the last week, more companies have taken a stand against AI companies using theirs without permission. ▪️ One of these fights will take place in the traditional place for copyright disputes: The court system. Three heavy-hitters in the music industry—UMG, Warner and Sony—sued AI music generating platforms Suno and Udio AI, accusing them of stealing their music. ▪️ The lawsuit says the AI music platforms use “massive and ongoing infringement” as they take copyrighted songs to train their LLMs. ▪️ In a statement shared with Forbes, Suno CEO Mikey Shulman said Suno “prize(s) originality” and tried to explain to the record labels that its technology is “designed to generate completely new outputs, not to memorize and regurgitate pre-existing content,” but Shulman said the labels “reverted to their old lawyer-led playbook.” #music #ai #aimodels #aimodeltraining #copyright #songs #llm #llmtraining #trainingdata #infringement #musicindustry https://lnkd.in/g53KexD6

Pioneering Legal Challenge: AI in the Music Industry Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Records have initiated copyright lawsuits against AI companies Udio and Suno for using copyrighted music to train their AI models. Highlighted by Reuters as the first of its kind, these lawsuits signal the music industry's proactive stance against the challenges posed by music-generating AI, potentially reshaping the future development of generative AI in creative fields. As the industry navigates these technological advancements, it's crucial to consider the implications for both creators' rights and ethical AI use, ensuring a balanced approach for all involved. Ars Technica Benj Edwards Danny Goh Mark Esposito, PhD Terence Tse, PhD #MusicIndustry #CopyrightLaw #ArtificialIntelligence #TechNews #Transparency #EthicalAI https://lnkd.in/gF8G9f_A For more discussion, please visit https://lnkd.in/gqDPtry3.

Discussions surrounding AI are inescapable in the current music industry landscape. In “Dealmaking in the Generative AI Space,” Dallin Earl, Associate, Covington & Burling LLP, led a discussion with panelists Linda Cole, Chief Legal Officer, Native Instruments; David Hughes, Principle, Hughes Strategic; and Lidia Kim, VP, Business & Legal Affairs, Concord Music Publishing; about the importance of transparency when working with AI. Hughes emphasized the importance of AI generator creators obtaining the appropriate licensing to produce the new content. This usually included often personality rights and a copyright license.   Without at least a surface level understanding how AI works, it would be nearly impossible to obtain appropriate licensing, such as a blanket license for a broad approach. Cole noted that AI has leaked into privacy policies, stating, “at Native Instruments, we state when we will use such content and how it will be stored, because it only takes one incident to destroy a brand.” Kim gave insight from a music publisher’s perspective, highlighting how vital it is to have an express reservation of rights to ensure that any license to partners is not granting rights to any copyright-use exceptions. Overall, there is still much work to do when tackling issues related to AI, but the tips provided by the panel give attorneys as well as future attorneys a good head start on what things to note on cases involving AI. Isis Alava

Every AI company choosing to train on copyrighted works is walking a tightrope between the World Trade Center and the Empire State Building. They might make it to the other side, but it's a looooong walk, filled with legal cases debating the 'fair use' argument. It's a gamble, and the fall will be certain death for the company. I don't think I'd feel comfortable with that level of risk. Would you? #AI #trainingdata #copyright #datasets

I recently read about U.S. record labels suing AI music generators for copyright infringement on NBC News. This development raises important questions about the future of AI in our industry and the protection of intellectual property. It's a pivotal moment that challenges us to rethink how we integrate AI into our creative processes. The integration of AI in music production presents both opportunities and challenges. It's crucial to find a middle ground that fosters innovation without compromising creativity and originality. What steps can we take to ensure the fair and ethical use of AI in music? How can we support our artists in navigating this evolving landscape? #MusicIndustry #AIMusic #Copyright #Innovation #IntellectualProperty #EthicalAI #Leadership #MezzEntertainment

Do AI companies profit from remixing music tracks through generative AI? Artists and Record labels feel they do. AI companies, claiming creative license, believe that there is nothing wrong in copying an artist's work without consent or payment. However big record labels are now carrying the fight over copyright infringements to the courts. Record labels Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Warner Records have recently sued AI start-ups Suno and Udio on grounds of “mass copyright infringement by using the labels' recordings to train music-generating AI systems.” They added that the recreated music will “directly compete with, cheapen, and ultimately drown out” human artists’ work. https://buff.ly/4bz2xct Suno CEO Mikey Shulman disagrees, “Our technology is transformative; it is designed to generate completely new outputs, not to memorize and regurgitate pre-existing content.” Suno and UDIO have raised millions in funding for their text prompt based music generating systems. The record labels claim that the AI companies are “deliberately evasive” about the material they used to train their technology. In fact, they have accused Suno and UDIO of copying 662 and 1670 songs respectively. They are seeking statutory damages of up to $150,000 per “allegedly copied” song. This could run into billions! #music #copyright #AI #recordlabels #technology

📢 Major Lawsuit Alert: Record Industry vs AI Music Generators SUNO and Udio! The recording industry has taken a bold step, suing AI music generators SUNO and Udio for copyright infringement. The legal stakes are immense, with potential to reshape how AI and the music industry coexist. What does this mean for the future of music creation? 🎶 📌 Key Arguments: - Can AI-generated music be considered original, or does it inherently breach copyright laws? - What constitutes fair use in the context of AI's role in creative arts? 👥 Reactions: - Artists and producers are divided, with some seeing AI as a tool for innovation while others view it as a threat to their livelihoods. - Legal experts are closely analyzing this case, predicting it could set a groundbreaking precedent. 🔮 Potential Outcomes: - A ruling against AI companies could impose strict limitations on how AI tools can be used in the music industry. - A decision favoring AI could open the floodgates for more AI-driven creative content. 🤔 Your Thoughts? - Do you believe AI should have the right to create music? - How should copyright laws adapt to rapidly advancing AI technology? Join the discussion and stay informed on this pivotal moment for AI and music! 👇 Let's hear your take in the comments! #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #MusicIndustry #Copyright #Innovation #LegalBattle #MusicTechnology #ApexWebServices https://lnkd.in/dc4f3c8q

Beating, voices, chord progressions in the world of music catch our attention and build the taste and preference. All too often, precisely the same features are carried over from one author to another; the boundary between creative influence and plagiarism is very blurred indeed. Primarily, this is why copyright laws have been decreed. Fast forward to now, where we are living in an era in which AI, with speed and all formulations of learning systems whatsoever, is challenging the essence of any field existing among itself, based on a process and outcome of creativity of which music is pinnacle. Until now, there was a discussion over AI and how it relates to intellectual property, but in a recent outburst, music rights owners moved to take AI companies to court, claiming that AIs copied music content without permission. The ball is in place for setting clear regulations and ethical guidelines regarding the use of AIs in creative industries where music is, of course, the first. Music creation and innovation truly lay in a future in which these challenges are faced while the first creators' rights remain intact and technological advancements are embraced. A cool article on the topic is here: https://lnkd.in/emMgXR6x #AI #Copyright #Innovation

🚨 SCOOP: the three majors are considering a joint lawsuit against AI companies Suno and Udio for allegedly training on their copyrighted sound recordings without consent or compensation. This could be filed as soon as next week, according to sources close to the matter It is unclear whether or not Suno and Udio use copyrights during their training process, but Ed Newton Rex’s articles for MBW point towards this being a good possibility. Of course, some AI firms believe training models on copyrights to be “fair use,” but rights holders often disagree, believing the practice to be a form of copyright infringement. I feel this possible lawsuit would be the biggest move yet in the push to regulate AI music companies. Let’s see what happens next… https://lnkd.in/gfpe4jZY

AI firms are facing lawsuits for allegedly using copyrighted music / content to train their models. Hence the importance of protecting artists' rights and ensuring fair compensation in the music industry. The ongoing battle underscores the need for ethical AI development and robust IP laws that can keep pace with technological advancements. While AI companies argue that their use of copyrighted material falls under "fair use" for technological progress, experts suggest that the laws may require updates to address these challenges. The debate extends to whether AI-generated works can be copyrighted under current laws, which currently recognizes authorship by natural (biological) persons and not by an algorithm. #AI #CopyrightLaw #EthicalAI #IPrights