Tech

Sony Music Issues Warning to Tech Companies Over Unauthorized AI Training

Published

May 17, 2024

Sony Music Group has dispatched letters to over 700 tech companies and music streaming services, cautioning them against using its music to train AI systems without explicit permission. According to TechCrunch, these letters indicate that Sony Music has “reason to believe” some recipients “may already have made unauthorized uses” of its content.

While Sony Music acknowledges the “significant potential” of AI, it emphasizes that unauthorized use of its content for AI training, development, or commercialization deprives the company and its artists of control and appropriate compensation. Sony’s roster includes prominent artists such as Harry Styles, Beyoncé, Adele, and Celine Dion.

The company aims to safeguard its intellectual property, which encompasses audio and audiovisual recordings, cover artwork, metadata, lyrics, and more. The specific recipients of the letters have not been disclosed.

“We support artists and songwriters in embracing new technologies to enhance their art,” Sony Music stated. “Technological evolutions have frequently reshaped creative industries. AI will likely continue that trend. However, this innovation must respect the rights of songwriters and recording artists, including their copyrights.”

The letters request detailed information from recipients about which Sony Music songs were used to train AI systems, how the songs were accessed, the number of copies made, if any copies still exist, and the justification for their existence.

Sony Music has set a deadline for responses and has made it clear that it will enforce its copyright to the “fullest extent permitted by applicable law in all jurisdictions.”