The deal encompasses both the recording and publishing side of Downtown’s business, and paves the way for millions of licensed recordings from Downtown’s extensive catalog to be added to Audius. It also unlocks a new way for Downtown’s artists and labels to directly connect with their fans and control how their music is monetized beyond the typical streaming model.
Source: Downtown Licenses Content to Audius Blockchain Platform
Ministers are rethinking changes to copyright law before a vote in parliament next week, in a further concession to artists, the Guardian has learned. A source close to Peter Kyle, the technology secretary, said proposals to introduce an opt-out system of copyright rules was no longer his preferred option but one of several being given consideration. Kyle said: “We’re listening to the consultation and we are absolutely determined to get this right. We’re not going back to square one. We are moving forward.”
Source: Ministers reconsider changes to UK copyright law ahead of vote
As publications fight for increasingly thin slices of advertising budgets and the subscription model for news sites slowly stagnating, it’s more important than ever to maximize your publication’s content to bring in every bit of revenue possible. Many content creators and publications in Europe are overlooking the potential of content licensing to support their brands. The truth is, your existing content can – and should – generate income long after you publish it.
Source: Content licensing for publishers: Five key questions answered
Udio, an AI music startup facing ongoing litigation from major record labels alongside its competitor Suno, has struck a new partnership with content identification platform Audible Magic. The move creates what the companies call a “content control pipeline” that allows streaming services and distributors to identify AI-generated tracks from Udio’s platform and apply appropriate licensing rules.
Source: Udio and Audible Magic team up to tackle rights management in AI-generated music
A couple of comments in its earnings call suggested the details are still being worked out with rightsholders. “Of course we need alignment and support from our industry partners to offer these kinds of new experiences to our users,” said co-president and chief business officer Alex Norstrom. “We do need the partners to come to the table and be part of this journey,” added CEO Daniel Ek.
Source: Spotify on superfan plans: ‘We do need the partners to come to the table’
Sweden-headquartered Epidemic Sound has acquired Song Sleuth, an AI music recognition startup, betting on AI to solve one of the music industry’s most persistent challenges: tracking and monetizing songs used in user-generated content online. Epidemic Sound said the acquisition paves the way for the launch of a new service called Aentidote aimed at identifying unclaimed and undistributed royalties from remixes, covers, and live recordings.
Source: Epidemic Sound acquires AI startup Song Sleuth to tackle music’s ‘black box’ problem
In a House of Representatives Cabinet Committee that took place on April 16th, 2025, in Japan, lawmakers brought up and weighed in on the issue of copyright compliance when it comes to these AI-generated photos. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology Strategy Officer Nakahara Hirohiko says that the final decision of whether these users have violated copyright infringement depends on the country’s courts, reports state.
Source: japanese lawmakers are coming for your AI-generated, studio ghibli-style images
To date, AI music companies in the United States are not required to honor opt-outs, but through this partnership, Sureel and Beatstars, the world’s largest music marketplace, hope to create clarity for AI music companies that are wishing to avoid legal and reputational risks and create a digital ledger to keep track of beatmakers’ wishes regarding AI training.
Source: BeatStars Partners With Sureel to Provide AI Training Opt-Outs for Creators
Hollywood’s latest drama isn’t unfolding on screen—it’s playing out in legal departments, writers’ rooms, and the fast-evolving field of intellectual property law. With AI now assisting in everything from script treatments to concept art, the industry is facing one key question: Who owns what the machine creates? S
Source: Who Owns AI-Created Stories? Hollywood Grapples With a Shifting IP Landscape — AI In Hollywood
Ziff Davis, the parent company of several digital media brands, filed a lawsuit in Delaware federal court against OpenAI for copyright infringement. In the complaint, the nearly 100-year-old publisher claims the artificial intelligence company has copied its written works verbatim to train the model behind popular chatbot ChatGPT.
Source: OpenAI hit with copyright lawsuit by digital media giant Ziff Davis