AI-generated music has given us many advantages over our creative processes. Thanks to these tools, you can explore many ideas at once and keep creating for as long as you want.
However, many of these platforms are still new, so artists are confused about certain topics, including copyright.
Copyright infringement is something that most artists don’t want to deal with. It can lead to unnecessary problems that will only cost you money and slow down your production process.
There are many concerns when it comes to AI-generated music, particularly the use of copyrighted material to train AI models. Using another person’s work without their consent will come with consequences, so that’s something to keep in mind before picking a platform to create music with AI.
Can AI-generated music be copyrighted? The short answer is that it depends. First, we’ll give you an overview of how copyright and royalties work. Then, we’ll explore the concept of copyright in AI-generated work.
Understanding Music Royalties
Music royalties have two main forms:
Composition and Songwriting
A common use for AI in the music industry is during the composition process. Some artists use these tools to come up with topic ideas, whereas others create entire songs.
According to the U.S. Copyright Office, applicants must disclose any part of their work that involves AI. Even so, there are many concerns surrounding AI detection software making false ownership claims.
Artists must be transparent when it comes to the origin of their work.
Master and Sound Recording
In most cases, the master copyright will help you determine who owns a sound recording. Usually, the person owning the master’s rights should receive all of the earnings related to that.
However, the share of the master’s earnings will vary, as there are usually other individuals involved in the production process, such as the record label or producer.
When someone uses AI to create a song, it’s hard to determine who’s the true owner of the result. An artist could use AI to get a foundation to work with and then use their experience to create a full song. If there was significant human intervention, the composition may be eligible for copyright.
In these cases, however, it may be complicated to track what percentage of the song’s melody came from AI. If that portion came from someone else’s work, for example, the artist could get in trouble if they didn’t get permission.
Can Your Music Be Copyrighted?
Generally speaking, an entirely AI-generated song can’t be copyrighted. This is because AI-generated art isn’t considered to be made by a human.
What happens with AI-assisted songs, though? As discussed at the beginning of the article, the answer is still unclear. The main reason why is that there tends to be secrecy regarding the data AI models use to train.
When there’s a lack of transparency from the team, it’s hard to tell whether the artist is infringing another person’s copyrighted work.
There are a few exceptions to consider, though. In the U.S., for example, you have the “fair use” law. It allows people to use copyrighted material without having to get permission from the owner. Of course, this comes with a few limitations.
The fair use law only applies to people using the material for specific purposes, such as research, criticism, comment, teaching, etc.
One of the main concerns within the music industry is using AI to create songs that mimic famous artists. Even if the person’s work is original, the artist could sue for misappropriation of the commercial use of their performance.
What happens to artists who are only using AI to generate unique ideas to work with? Do they still face a risk of getting sued? Below, we’ll explore the answers in depth.
Who Owns AI-generated Music?
There are two parties who could own the track: the tool’s creator and the artist who prompted the song. The answer depends on the service provider.
Let’s take Suno AI as an example. The platform has a free version you can use. However, any work that you create under this plan is owned by Suno. You may only use the song for non-commercial purposes, and you’ll have to provide attribution credit to the platform owners.
If you go for a paid plan, however, you can own the recording, as long as you comply with Suno’s terms of service.
Of course, you have to consider the music Suno was originally trained on. Is it already copyrighted works? Who owns that? It’s hard to be sure.
This is only an example to consider. As you can see, the topic is a bit difficult to navigate, so what options do artists have if they don’t want to get in trouble?
Is There Any Solution to Consider?
There’s one solution you can explore if you want to use AI-generated music and still earn money from it. As discussed above, the main problem is when you use AI models that train with other people’s work (without their permission).
However, if you take care of that issue, you can explore your ideas without worrying. By using software like SOUNDRAW, you don’t have to deal with copyright problems.
SOUNDRAW has a unique approach to AI model training. Its team works with producers who create original beats in-house to train the tool. In other words, SOUNDRAW doesn’t use other artists’ work to train the AI model.
Everything you create on the platform originates from original content, so you don’t have to worry about paying royalties, getting copyright strikes, or facing monetization problems.
When you use SOUNDRAW, you can distribute your songs in any way you like. Also, you can keep 100% of your recording royalties.
SOUNDRAW offers a solution that other platforms may not have. Its team came up with a way to offer a unique tool for artists while respecting the work of those who spent time and effort to create their songs.
Copyrighting AI Music
AI has sparked a lot of debate recently, especially within the music industry. As this technology evolves, it’s likely that it will open more avenues for artists to explore.
All artists have the right to protect their creations, so it’s understandable that AI models that aren’t transparent with their training methods can cause problems for users.
If you don’t have to have issues while producing music, make sure to only work with software that ensures you’re not using someone else’s craft without their permission.
With software like SOUNDRAW, you can easily create, customize, and distribute songs without ever worrying about copyright.
Ready to give it a shot?