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Sony Music Group has sent letters to over 700 tech companies and music streaming services, warning them not to use its music to train AI without permission. The letter, obtained by TechCrunch, states that Sony believes these companies may have already used its music without authorization.
Sony acknowledges the potential of AI but emphasizes that unauthorized use of its content for AI development deprives the company and its artists of control and fair compensation. The company represents many famous artists, including Harry Styles, Beyoncé, Adele, and Celine Dion.
Sony Music aims to protect its intellectual property, which includes recordings, cover art, metadata, and lyrics. They have not revealed which 700 companies received the letter.
In a statement, Sony Music expressed support for artists and songwriters using new technologies but stressed the importance of respecting their rights and copyrights. The letter asks recipients to detail how they used Sony’s music for AI training, how many copies were made, and the reasons for making these copies. Sony has set a deadline for responses and plans to enforce its copyright fully.
This action comes amid growing concerns about copyright infringement with AI-generated music. For example, Drake faced backlash after using AI to create a deepfake of the late rapper Tupac. Last month, a new bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to require AI companies to disclose which copyrighted songs they used for training. Additionally, Tennessee recently became the first state to protect artists against AI misuse with the ELVIS Act.