While the tools are often complicated and time consuming, several AI companies provide creators with ways to opt their work out of training. Generative AI models depend on training datasets, and the companies behind them are motivated to avoid restricting those potential data pools. So while they often do allow artists to opt their work out, the process can be crude and labor intensive — especially if you have a sizable catalog of work.
Rights
Cinq Music raises $250m from parent company GoDigital to acquire music rights
The significant capital raise arrives as heat appears to be reentering the blockbuster music rights acquisition space. Over the past seven days, Billboard has reported that Sony Music Group recently agreed to buy a 50% stake in Michael Jackson‘s publishing and recorded music catalog for $600 million-plus, while the long-running potential sale of Queen’s music rights is also reportedly picking up pace.
US Patent Office: AI is all well and good, but only humans can patent things
The question of where AI sits in the legal personhood stack isn’t as simple as it may seem (i.e. “nowhere”) — but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today declared that, as with other intellectual property, only a person can receive its official protections. The news arrived via “guidance,” which is to say official policy but not ironclad rule, set to be entered into the federal register soon.
Source: US Patent Office: AI is all well and good, but only humans can patent things | TechCrunch
Donald Trump ‘Did Nothing’ on Music Modernization Act
In an apparent attempt to undercut Taylor Swift’s potential influence on the presidential election later this year, former president Donald Trump issued a statement on his Truth Social platform Sunday claiming credit for the 2018 Music Modernization Act. However, Dina LaPolt, a key attorney behind the MMA, disputed Trump’s claims in a statement Sunday. “Trump did nothing on our legislation except sign it.”
AI Companies Take Hit as Judge Says Artists Have “Public Interest” In Pursuing Lawsuits
Artists have secured a small but meaningful win in their lawsuit against generative artificial intelligence art generators. U.S. District Judge William Orrick, in an order issued on Thursday night, rebuffed arguments from StabilityAI, Midjourney and StabilityAI that they are entitled to a First Amendment defense arising under a California statute allowing for the early dismissal of claims intended to chill free speech.
Source: AI Companies Take Hit as Judge Says Artists Have “Public Interest” In Pursuing Lawsuits
Spotify paid out $9 billion to music rightsholders in 2023
The company says it delivered USD $9 billion last year to recipients across record companies and music publishers, plus independent distributors, performance rights organizations, and collecting societies. According to Spotify, the $9 billion figure means that its annual payouts to music rightsholders have “nearly tripled in the past six years”.
Spotify Paying Audiobook Publishers ‘Tens of Millions’ of Dollars
Spotify has paid audiobook publishers “tens of million” since the launch of audiobooks on the platform’s premium subscription last year in the US, UK, and Australia. And at the top of that list sits Britney Spears’ memoir, “The Woman in Me,” the most listened to book on the service. The Stockholm-headquartered audio streaming giant says users have listened to over 90,000 unique titles from the platform’s catalog.
Source: Spotify Paying Audiobook Publishers ‘Tens of Millions’ of Dollars
Industry Players Back Universal Music in TikTok Dispute
Amid the Universal Music-TikTok licensing dispute, industry companies and organizations are coming out in support of the major label. The likes of the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) and Downtown Music are backing Universal Music Group (UMG) in the much-publicized disagreement, which, as we reported, kicked off with an open letter last week.
Source: Industry Players Back Universal Music in TikTok Dispute
Warner Music CEO Believes Universal Impasse Will Be Resolved
Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl said his company remains happy with their deal with TikTok and he believes the social media platform and Universal Music Group will also come to an agreement. “Our deal was very difficult too, but we got there and, for us, it was fair, but it was a year ago. It was also a different time. So I don’t know what is driving Universal’s positions, but if there’s any way we can help them, we will, and I’m confident they’ll sort it out,” he continued.
Source: Warner Music CEO Says Their Deal With TikTok Is “Fair,” Believes Universal Impasse Will Be Resolved
Digital watermarks combined with AI will speed up copyright infringement cases: Study
The technology would enhance the assessment of data about potential breaches and make it easier for lawsuits to be be brought. It will also lead to more evidence being available to the courts. But the increasing use of watermarking—which makes it easier to detect copying—and AI is also likely to mean a proliferation of small-scale disputes, experts have warned.
Source: Digital watermarks combined with AI will speed up copyright infringement cases, study says