If a Cox subscriber used broadband to pirate a novel, Cox did not build its network to enable that outcome. When a user prompts an AI model to write in the style of Cormac McCarthy or generate a sonnet that reads like Shakespeare, the system was built explicitly to fulfill that request. Under Judge Thomas’s framework, that distinction could matter enormously.
Source: SCOTUS’s Cox Ruling Could Impact Publishers’ Fight Against AI
The decision establishes a clear rule that contributory copyright liability requires inducement of infringement or provision of a service tailored to infringement. Mere knowledge that a service is being used for infringement, even coupled with a failure to terminate the infringing user, is insufficient. This provides significant protection for ISPs and other general-purpose service providers.
Source: SCOTUS Copyright Decision a Big Win for ISPs and, Potentially, Other Digital Players
Filed on Monday in San Jose federal court, the publishers push back against tech companies’ continued claim that “fair use” applies to copying millions of copyrighted works without authorization to train AI models. Their case argues that Claude’s AI-generated lyrics are by definition derivatives of the publishers’ lyrics and “compete with and dilute the market” for them. “The evidence in this case is overwhelming,” the filing asserts, adding that Anthropic has “committed copyright infringement on a massive scale.”
Source: Major Publishers Make a Decisive Legal Strike Against Anthropic’s ‘Limitless AI Rip-Offs’
The Supreme Court on Wednesday sided with internet provider Cox Communications, holding that it cannot be held liable for music piracy even if it did not take adequate steps to curb the copyright infringement. The justices, in a 9-0 ruling, were weighing in on a lengthy legal fight between Cox and Sony Music Entertainment, which had sought huge damages against the internet provider for not blocking service to those who egregiously downloaded protected works.
Source: Supreme Court Limits Liability of ISPs for Music Piracy
Now available to Premium subscribers on iOS and Android, the feature provides an interactive experience that lets users trace other components of a song beyond the singer, songwriter, or musician. With SongDNA, listeners could explore other connections, like who may have covered that song, plus other information like samples, interpolations, or what other projects the song’s collaborators have also been involved in.
Source: Spotify’s new SongDNA feature maps how your favorite songs are connected
The conversations around the usage of AI in music can get quite nebulous without proper framing. On one hand, Suno’s current role, according to CEO Mikey Shulman, is that it’s the Ozempic of the music industry: everyone is on it, but no one is telling you. With 2 million paid subscribers and $300 million in annual recurring revenue, the sizable base is there. The question now is what the ceiling looks like. The belief that “most of the music on Suno is bad,” is also accurate. But most songs on Spotify are not good.
At a top level, public performances of musical works are tracked by a vast and complex system of loosely tied organizations. Issues aside — and there are many — it’s a remarkably complex royalty-collection mechanism for music IP owners, with PROs worldwide tracking and charging for music the public enjoys. But is it time for that mechanism to undergo a system upgrade?
Source: Why Is the Music Industry Still Estimating Public Performance?
A judge has dismissed an antitrust case brought by two US news publishers alleging Google has monopolized the online news market via its search business. US District Judge Amit P. Mehta said the publishers did not successfully prove they have antitrust standing, meaning that they had suffered harm as a result of the tech giant’s actions within the search market.
Source: US judge dismisses Google monopoly claim brought by local publishers
The recently-launched SunoCharts website carries the tagline ‘the analytics layer for AI music’. The twist is that none of the trending tracks or artists included in those analytics are real. That’s not us making a snarky jab at those creators. They’re literally not real, as the site’s creator Kieron Donoghue explains. “SunoCharts is a site built on dummy data that shows what could be possible if Suno released an API. It does not use any live data, it’s purely a demo,” he says.
Source: SunoCharts shows how AI music’s trending creators and breakout genres could be tracked
On Wednesday, French music streamer Deezer unveiled its 2025 financials, reporting profitability for the first time and exceeding all three key metrics across adjusted EBITDA, positive net income, and free cash flow. This, Deezer said, marks “the start of a cycle of sustainable profitability.” This growth was attributed to a $14 million (12 million euro) reduction in expenses, while earning more users through the company’s position on AI in music and artist compensation.
Source: Deezer Achieves Profitability In Fiscal 2025; ‘AI Transparency’ a Serious Differentiator