To Curb Unauthorized Use of Music, Universal Music Group Files Lawsuit Against AI Developer Anthropic
Universal Music Group (UMG) is leading a lawsuit against Anthropic, the developer of Claude AI, in an effort to prevent the unauthorized use of its music for training AI models. This marks the first major lawsuit by the music industry against an AI developer. UMG is seeking $75 million in damages.
Multiple Publishers Join the Lawsuit
In addition to UMG, several other publishers, including Concord Music Group, ABKCO, Worship Together Music, and Plaintiff Capital CMG, have also joined the lawsuit against Anthropic. These publishers collectively accuse the AI developer of using their artists’ songs in its AI models dataset without permission.
Publishers Allege Copyright Infringement
The attorneys representing the publishers state that Anthropic has engaged in systematic and widespread infringement of copyrighted song lyrics. They argue that while Anthropic claims to operate ethically and responsibly, it unlawfully copies and disseminates copyrighted works during the process of building and operating its AI models.
Lawsuit Details
The 60-page lawsuit filed by UMG and other publishers highlights instances where Claude AI provided lyrics to copyrighted songs. The publishers emphasize their support for innovation and responsible use of AI but contend that Anthropic has violated copyright laws.
Demands and Legal Battle Between AI Developers
The publishers are demanding a jury trial and requesting that Anthropic pay legal fees, destroy all infringing material, disclose how its AI model was trained, and face financial penalties for each infringed work. This lawsuit is part of a series of legal battles between AI developers, writers, and artists over alleged unauthorized use of their work.
Universal Music Group’s Partnership with Bandlab Technologies
While pursuing the lawsuit against Anthropic, UMG has also announced a collaboration with Bandlab Technologies, a Singapore-based AI developer. UMG praises Bandlab Technologies’ commitment to an ethical approach to AI and sees the partnership as a way to benefit the creative community.
The Human Artistry Campaign
Bandlab Technologies is part of the Human Artistry Campaign, along with other companies and organizations such as SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, the American Federation of Musicians, the NFL and NHL Players’ Associations, and the Authors Guild. The campaign aims to ensure that AI technology is developed and used in ways that support human creativity.
Hot Take: Universal Music Group Takes a Stand Against Unauthorized Use of Music in AI Development
Universal Music Group’s lawsuit against Anthropic represents a significant move by the music industry to protect its copyrighted material from unauthorized use in AI models. This legal battle highlights the ongoing tensions between AI developers and creators over intellectual property rights. As the use of AI in various industries continues to grow, it becomes crucial for developers to respect copyright laws and work ethically. Collaboration between music giants like UMG and responsible AI developers such as Bandlab Technologies can pave the way for innovative and ethical approaches to AI in the music industry.
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