The use of artificial intelligence in the art world has been touted for its supposed ability to spot fakes and authenticate works by Old Masters, identify which emerging artists will become the next superstars and even create artworks without human involvement. It’s all very space age and largely niche. But behind the scenes in a rapidly changing art market, A.I. is already playing a significant role in price setting.
Source: Artificial Intelligence Is Rewriting the Rules of Art Valuation
Phonorecords V is the latest installment in a five-yearly cycle in which the Board sets the statutory mechanical rate under Section 115 of the US Copyright Act – the royalty owed each time a song is reproduced and distributed, from a vinyl pressing to a download. The settlement was filed on June 29 by the three major record companies, indie labels, and the industry’s main publisher and songwriter bodies.
Source: CRB proposes extending physical and download mechanical rates through 2032
Meta has said it is discontinuing an AI feature launched this week that allowed users to generate images using public Instagram accounts, after drawing widespread criticism over privacy concerns, including from a Hollywood union. “We’ve heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it’s no longer available,” it said. The feature, integrated into its Meta AI chatbot, can use photos as input and lets users edit generated images directly through sketches.
Source: Meta ditches Muse Image AI feature because it ‘misses the mark’ on users’ privacy
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is expected to deliver a major speech on Wednesday about the government’s plans for regulating and capitalising on the nascent technology. After abandoning the former industry minister Ed Husic’s vision for a dedicated AI act in favour of a hands-off approach to regulation, the government is reportedly set to pivot back to a more interventionist strategy.
Source: AI companies want to water down Australia’s copyright laws.
A coalition of record-label and artist groups is pushing streaming giants to label music generated with artificial intelligence, as the industry grapples with how AI is changing the business. The group said it plans to work with streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music to add labels on tracks indicating when AI was used to produce them. AI usage is flagged voluntarily by artists, record labels and distributors.
Source: Record Companies Push to Label AI Songs on Streaming Platforms
At issue is a potential European Union legislative proposal that would overturn the 2020 Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) decision in RAAP (Recorded Artists Actors Performers Ltd), which extended national-treatment protections to American recording artists and labels. The coalition says replacing those protections with a “material reciprocity” framework would codify discrimination against US creators and reduce the royalty payments American artists currently receive from Europe.
Source: EU proposal could cost American artists nearly $300M a year U.S. music coalition says
Publisher Hachette Book Group, Cengage Learning, and Elsevier, as well as author Scott Turow, are the named plaintiffs in the lawsuit, and the claims are being brought on behalf of themselves and a proposed class of authors and publishers. The suit follows an attempt by HBG and Cengage to join the Google Generative AI Copyright Litigation lawsuit first brought by a group of illustrators and writers in 2023, and which Google has been challenging the right for the publishers to participate.
Source: Publishers, Authors File Class Action Lawsuit Against Google
Swiss tech company Tribe Music Group has launched a catalogue-valuation tool called ValuePunks, available for artists and labels to use at no cost. The software measures data across every rights category — streaming, physical, sync, D2C and neighboring rights — and turns it into a catalogue assessment report. This is based on earnings data from more than 120,000 catalogue profiles collectively generating over €100m in annual royalties.
Source: ValuePunks offers free catalogue valuations to artists and indie labels
Netflix is further expanding the mix of content available on its platform through licensing partnerships with a range of top publishers, including Variety and other brands in Penske Media’s PMX unit, as well as BuzzFeed Studios, Condé Nast, Hearst Magazines, People Inc. and Tastemade. The deal calls for Netflix to carry a selection of top video content from the print and digital publishing groups starting Aug. 3.
Source: Netflix Sets Video Licensing Pact With Top Digital Publishers
In July 2025, Los Angeles photographer Jamie Nelson photographed Amy Taylor, the lead singer of Australian punk band Amyl and the Sniffers, for a Vogue Portugal editorial called “Champagne Problems.” But after Nelson began selling limited-edition art prints of the images on her website, Taylor filed suit, alleging that the images were only authorized for editorial use. Now, a year later, the two remain locked in litigation over the matter.
Source: Legal Battle Between a Punk Singer and a Photographer Heats Up