“Getty and Stability AI Lawsuits Trigger Ruthless Shockwaves in Music”
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to disrupt creative industries, a legal battle between Getty Images and Stability AI has sent shockwaves through the music world. Getty’s lawsuit, alleging that Stability AI unlawfully trained its AI model on copyrighted images, has amplified concerns about the unauthorized use of music for training AI tools.
Everything you need to know:
✓ Getty’s lawsuit amplifies music industry’s concerns over AI copyright.
✓ Case could clarify legality of training AI on copyrighted music.
✓ Outcome may shape future of AI in music industry.
The shocking lawsuit that could rewrite the rules of AI music
At the heart of this case lies a fundamental question: Does training AI systems on copyrighted works constitute infringement?
The outcome could have profound implications for the music industry, where fears of “music laundering” and the devaluation of artists’ rights have been voiced.
Jonathan Coote, an associate and music lawyer at Bray & Krais Solicitors, underscores the urgency of the matter, stating, “There is a need for urgent clarification on the law relating to AI training in the UK.” While UK law currently prohibits commercial AI training on copyrighted works, the legal landscape remains hazy, leaving room for potential precedent-setting cases like Getty’s.
The music industry has been a vocal critic of AI companies potentially infringing copyrights. As Coote notes, “With AI-generated music already being distributed on streaming services, music companies and musicians are understandably worried about its proliferation.” The proliferation of voice-cloning technology and deepfakes has only heightened these concerns.
Getty’s case could provide much-needed clarity on the legality of training AI models on copyrighted music. While the company’s claims revolve around images, the underlying principles are likely to resonate throughout the creative sectors.
The ‘Black Box’ secrets Stability AI hopes will shield them from the music industry’s wrath
One key challenge lies in proving infringement in the realm of AI. Stability AI argues that individual AI outputs do not reproduce a “substantial part” of any particular work, and that safeguards prevent direct copying. However, Getty has managed to reproduce distorted watermarks in output images, demonstrating that its images were used in the training process.
For the music industry, such evidence could be harder to come by, given the “black-box” nature of most AI tools. As Coote explains, “The issue of training is therefore absolutely vital for the industry.”
As the case proceeds, the music world will be watching closely, hoping for clarity on the legal boundaries surrounding AI training and the protection of artists’ intellectual property rights. With initiatives like the EU’s AI Act and proposed legislation in the US, the regulatory landscape is rapidly evolving, but the Getty vs. Stability AI case could set a crucial precedent.
In an era where AI-generated music is already a reality, the outcome of this case could shape the future of the music industry, determining the extent to which AI can be harnessed without compromising the rights and livelihoods of human creators.
