TLDR:
- Sony Music Group warns around 700 AI developers and music streaming services not to use its content for training AI.
- Developers need explicit permission to use Sony Music’s content for AI training.
Sony Music Group has issued warnings to approximately 700 AI developers and music streaming services, cautioning them against utilizing its content for training artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The company has sent out “opt-out” letters, specifying that developers must obtain explicit permission to use Sony Music’s content for AI training purposes. The letters suggest that some developers may already be in violation of this requirement. The warnings come in response to the European Union’s AI Act, which mandates AI developers to publicly disclose the content used to train their AI models.
In a statement on its website, Sony Music Group and its affiliates explicitly prohibit and opt out of any text or data mining, web scraping, or similar reproductions of their content without specific authorization. This content includes musical compositions, lyrics, audio recordings, and artwork, among other materials. The company is also reportedly in talks with streaming platforms to update their terms of service to forbid mining and scraping of Sony Music’s content.
It is clear from Sony Music’s actions that they are taking a proactive approach to protect their content and intellectual property rights in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI technology. By warning developers and streaming services, the company aims to ensure that proper permissions are obtained before using their content for training AI systems, in compliance with regulations such as the EU’s AI Act.