Katarzyna Petru
Artificial intelligence is increasingly making inroads into the music industry, but with its development comes a growing number of questions about copyright. Sony has decided not to wait for further legal disputes and has developed a tool designed to detect the presence of original, protected works in music generated by AI. The technology can determine not only the potential source of inspiration but also the extent of a particular song's influence on the generated material. This is a response to the rising concerns of artists and record labels who are unsure whether their creative work has been used to train models without consent. The solution could become the foundation for new settlement rules between the music industry and AI companies. Especially as works created by algorithms are increasingly entering the mainstream.
How the music influence detection system works
The tool developed by Sony operates in two modes. In the case of collaborating AI companies, it is possible to analyse the training data of the model to check which tracks were used during its learning. This allows for a precise indication of whether protected music was included in the training set. However, if the model creators do not disclose their data, the system compares the finished track generated by AI with the catalogue of existing recordings. Based on this, it estimates which compositions may have influenced the final result and to what extent. This makes it possible to detect potential infringements even when the algorithm training process remains undisclosed.
AI and Compensation for Artists
Sony does not hide the fact that technology could become the basis for a new settlement model. If the system demonstrates that specific works have had a real impact on a piece created by AI, creators could receive proportional compensation. This is a potential step towards licensing agreements and revenue-sharing mechanisms. The music industry has been arguing for months with companies developing generative models, accusing them of using protected content without permission. Rather than completely blocking the development of AI in music, Sony is opting for control tools and greater transparency. This is a signal that the future of the market may be based not on bans, but on precise measurement of impact and fair compensation.
The new Sony technology is an attempt to sort out the relationship between the world of music and artificial intelligence. The system allows for the detection of whether and how much AI has drawn inspiration from specific works, which could change the way creators are compensated. As algorithmically generated songs begin to compete on the charts, tools to track influence become essential.
Source: DigitalTrends.com
