Sony Music Group, the world’s largest music publisher, has warned corporations like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, amongst others, in regards to the unauthorized use of its music to coach AI systems.
Representing a myriad of iconic artists corresponding to Beyonce and Adele, Sony Music demanded compliance with copyright laws from over 700 corporations that might need used its songs without permission.
In a letter seen by Bloomberg but not made publicly available, Sony Music expressed that its music might need been used without authorization.
The letter states, “We have reason to imagine that you might have already got made unauthorized uses of our music.”
Sony also insisted that it should protect its mental property to the fullest extent of the law, referencing the upcoming EU AI Act as a possible enforcement tool.
Alongside the letter, Sony also issued a public declaration that its music and other assets shouldn’t be used for non-consensual AI training.
As a part of the letter, Sony Music demanded detailed information from the businesses in regards to the use of its songs, including how the songs were accessed and the variety of copies made.
It states, “Unauthorized use of SMG Content within the training, development or commercialization of AI systems deprives SMG Companies and SMG Talent of control over and appropriate compensation for the uses of SMG Content.”
Sony Music’s CEO Jon Platt, alongside Neal Manowitz, president and COO of North America at Sony Electronics Inc., spoke about this on the 2024 CES event in Las Vegas.
Platt argued that unauthorized AI training removes “control and compensation” from artists and firms.
It looks like Sony has deliberately included tons of of corporations within the letter. Smaller corporations may crack, thus acting as an act of contrition that lumps pressure on those still in denial.
The AI training controversy continues
Whether they generate text, images, or music, all generative AI tools depend on vast datasets to learn and improve.
Text-to-audio generators like Suno and Udio have develop into increasingly sophisticated, enabling users to create entire albums and upload them to Spotify.
The crux of Sony’s grievance is that these datasets often include copyrighted works without consent or compensation to the rights holders.
They’re joined on this accusation by other individual creators across writing and the visual arts, in addition to several large corporations, corresponding to The Times.
Artists are also throwing down the gauntlet on AI’s involvement within the music industry.
Recently, over 200 outstanding artists, including Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, Pearl Jam, R.E.M, Chase & Status, and Jon Bon Jovi, have called for a halt to AI’s rising influence over the music industry.
The Artist Rights Alliance highlighted the erosion of performers’ rights in an open letter, stating, “This assault on human creativity should be stopped. We must protect against the predatory use of AI to steal skilled artists’ voices and likenesses, violate creators’ rights, and destroy the music ecosystem.”
Sony and other labels might already be gearing up for lawsuits. We’ll discover soon.
