Sony Cautions AI Companies Using Their Songs to Train AI

Sony cautions AI companies not to use their musical content as source materials when training their AI without authorization.

More than 700 tech companies and music streaming services have been cautioned in letters from Sony Music Group not to use its music without explicit permission to train artificial intelligence. TechCrunch obtained the letter in which Sony Music states that it has “reason to believe” that the letter’s recipients “may have already engaged in unauthorized uses” of its content. 

Sony Music stated that “unauthorized use of SMG Content in the training, development, or commercialization of AI systems” deprives it and its artists of “appropriate compensation” and “significant potential” of AI.

The company’s portfolio includes a considerable number of notable artists, including Harry Styles, Beyoncé, Adele, and Celine Dion.

Sony Music aims to safeguard its intellectual property, which consists of lyrics, cover art, audio and video recordings, and cover artwork, among other things. The comet will not be disclosed, to which it will send the letter to 700 companies.

Sony Music stated, “We support artists and songwriters who take the initiative to adopt new technologies for the benefit of their craft.” Technological advancements have frequently altered the trajectory of creative industries. AI will probably likely sustain this enduring trend. Nonetheless, this innovation must safeguard the copyrights and other rights of composers and recording artists.

The letter requests information from recipients regarding the utilization of specific songs by AI systems for training purposes, the methods employed to access the songs, the number of duplicates produced (if any remain), the rationale behind the existence of copies, and so forth. 

Sony Music has specified a response deadline for the letter’s recipients and stated that its copyright would be enforced “to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law in all jurisdictions.”

The action is taken when copyright infringement is growing in importance due to the emergence of generative AI. Spotify and other streaming services are inundated with AI-generated music. Even artists are experimenting with artificial intelligence; Drake was criticized for deepfaking the late rapper Tupac earlier this month.