Sony Music Group has sent letters to more than 700 tech companies and music streaming services to warn them not to use its music to train artificial intelligence without express permission. The letter, which was obtained by TechCrunch, states that Sony Music has “reason to believe” that the recipients of the letter “may have already made unauthorized uses” of its content.
Sony Music said that while it recognizes the “significant potential” of artificial intelligence, “unauthorized use of SMG Content in the training, development or commercialization of AI systems” deprives it and its artists of control and “appropriate compensation.”
The company’s artist portfolio includes many notable artists such as Harry Styles, Beyoncé, Adele and Celine Dion.
Sony Music seeks to protect its intellectual property, which includes sound and audiovisual recordings, cover art, metadata, lyrics and more. The company has not disclosed which 700 companies it is sending the letter to.
“We support artists and songwriters who are taking the lead in adopting new technologies to support their art,” Sony Music said in a statement. a statement. “Developments in technology have often changed the course of the creative industries. Artificial intelligence will likely continue this long-standing trend. However, this innovation must ensure that the rights of songwriters and recording artists, including copyright, are respected.”
The letter asks the recipients to clarify which of Sony Music’s songs were used to train AI systems, how the songs were accessed, how many copies were made and whether any copies still exist, and why there were copies in the first place.
Sony Music gave the recipients of the letter a deadline to respond, noting that it will enforce its copyright to the “maximum extent permitted by applicable law in all jurisdictions.”
The move comes as copyright infringement becomes a major issue with the rise of genetic artificial intelligence, with streaming services such as Spotify flooded with AI-generated music. Even artists are dabbling in AI, with Drake facing criticism after deeply impersonating the late rapper Tupac earlier this month.
Last month, California Democratic Rep Adam Schiff introduced new legislation in the US House of Representatives, which, if passed, would force AI companies to disclose which copyrighted songs they used for AI.
In March, Tennessee became the first US state protect artists from artificial intelligence after Gov. Bill Lee signed the Ensuring Voice Similarity and Security (ELVIS) Act.
