Rights

Universal Music Group Considering Legal Action Against TikTok

For those who enjoy high-stakes showdowns between major media companies and tech giants, Universal Music Group vs. TikTok has been action-packed. But you might need a fresh bowl of popcorn for what’s next. According to multiple sources leaking details to Digital Music News, UMG has been flooding TikTok with DMCA takedown notices following its stern content removals in late January. But that may be a prelude to more serious legal action in the coming weeks.

Source: Universal Music Group Considering Legal Action Against TikTok

Inside Taylor Swift’s Surprise Return to TikTok

At a recent meeting with record label executives ahead of the debut of “The Tortured Poets Department,” Swift’s camp shared plans to promote the new album on platforms including TikTok, according to people familiar with the matter. Label executives were surprised. Months earlier, the label had pulled from TikTok a trove of Swift’s songs like “Cruel Summer” and “Shake It Off,” as well as works by its other artists.

Source: Inside Taylor Swift’s Surprise Return to TikTok

Cutting Edge Group secures $500m to fund music rights acquisitions

According to the announcement from UK-headquartered Cutting Edge today (April 15), the new funds will be used for a combination of “corporate purposes” and the acquisition of music rights across the film, TV, theatre, gaming, and wellness spaces. Cutting Edge said it has already identified a “circa USD $1.5 billion pipeline” of potential investments.

Source: Cutting Edge Group secures $500m to fund music rights acquisitions

UK politicians call for changes in streaming royalty split 

The UK Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) committee issued a report on Wednesday (April 10) calling for a number of new policies, aimed at ensuring better compensation for people working in creative industries. One recommendation sure to get the attention of the music industry is a change to the split in streaming royalties between recorded music and music publishing.

Source: UK politicians call for changes in streaming royalty split between recorded music and publishing; compensation for use of materials in training AI

How to Stop Your Data From Being Used to Train AI

Tech companies have scraped vast swathes of the web to gather the data they claim is needed to create generative AI—with little regard for content creators, copyright laws, or privacy. On top of this, increasingly, firms with reams of people’s posts are looking to get in on the AI gold rush by selling or licensing that information. Looking at you, Reddit.

Source: How to Stop Your Data From Being Used to Train AI

Spotlight On Data Transparency

We knew that OpenAI, Google and Meta relied on copyrighted material to train their generative AI models. The companies themselves have acknowledged as much by raising a fair use defense in the myriad lawsuits brought against them by copyright owners, including in the New York Times Co.’s copyright infringement lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft.

We also know that AI developers are increasingly desperate for new sources of high-quality data to train on as they rapidly exhaust the published contents of the World Wide Web, and are pushing the envelope in the pursuit of untapped resources.

Vocalist AI unveils vocal cloning platform that pays royalties to voice models

Vocalist AI uses algorithms and high-speed GPU processing to achieve vocal transformations. Users simply upload a vocal recording, whether it’s a quick iPhone note or a polished studio track, and then select from a curated library of voice models. These models include Beyoncé, Avicii, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, and Lizzo.

Source: Vocalist AI unveils vocal cloning platform that pays royalties to voice models

New Federal Bill Could Require Disclosure of Copyrighted Works Used in AI Training

Representative Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced new legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday (April 9) which, if passed, would require AI companies to disclose which copyrighted works were used to train their models, or face a financial penalty. Called the Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act, the new bill would apply to both new models and retroactively to previously released and used generative AI systems.

Source: New Federal Bill Could Require Disclosure of Songs Used in AI Training

Major music companies fight back against unlicensed AI in new ICMP-led initiative

An initiative led by the International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP), representing 90%of the world’s published music, has launched a new online resource called RightsAndAI.com, where rightsholders can reserve their rights against unlicensed exploitation of their works. The centralized platform seeks to send a clear message to AI firms engaging in “unlicensed exploitation.”

Source: Major music companies fight back against unlicensed AI in new ICMP-led initiative

Apple to license images from Shutterstock to train AI models

Apple has struck a deal to license millions of images from Shutterstock in order to train its AI models. Other tech companies have obtained similar deals from Shutterstock to help develop visual AI engines, including Google, Meta, and Amazon. News of Apple’s deal comes well after its signing in late 2022, and is expected to cost Apple up to $50 million.

Source: Apple to license images from Shutterstock to train AI models

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