A federal Judge has ruled that works created by artificial intelligence (AI) are not covered by copyrights under American law. Judge Beryl Howell stated that the purpose of copyright law is to incentivize human creativity and that non-human actors, such as AI, do not require this incentivization. While the ruling was not entirely unexpected, it is significant as AI’s role in creating music and other content continues to grow. The issue of copyright protection is crucial for AI-generated works, as works that are not protected would be difficult to monetize.

The decision raises complex legal questions for the music industry. For example, if an AI-powered tool is used in the creation of a song, but human artists add other elements, how much human direction is needed for the work to be considered “human-authored”? Additionally, how can a court distinguish between elements authored by humans and those authored by computers? These questions do not have clear-cut answers, and Judge Howell acknowledged that the increased use of AI in creative processes will present challenging legal dilemmas.

In other news, abuse lawsuits against Michael Jackson’s companies have been revived by a California appeals court, allowing the plaintiffs to pursue negligence claims. Smokey Robinson has won a trial against a former manager who claimed he was owed $1 million in touring profits. SoundExchange has filed a lawsuit against SiriusXM, alleging that the company is underpaying royalties owed to artists by using deceptive practices. And a judge in New Jersey has defended himself against misconduct allegations related to TikTok videos in which he lip-synced to popular songs.

Sources:
– Billboard Pro

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