Katarzyna Petru
Artificial intelligence is increasingly boldly entering the music industry, but with its development, the number of questions about copyright is rising. Sony decided not to wait for further legal disputes and 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 the impact of a specific song on the generated material. This is a response to the growing concerns of artists and labels who are unsure whether their creations have been used to train models without consent. The solution could become the foundation for new settlement rules between the music industry and AI companies. Particularly as works created by algorithms are increasingly making their way into the mainstream.
How the song influence detection system works
The tool developed by Sony operates in two modes. In the case of cooperating AI companies, it is possible to analyze the training data of the model to see which songs were used during its learning. This allows for a precise indication of whether protected music was included in the training dataset. However, if model creators do not disclose their data, the system compares the finished song generated by AI with the catalog 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 that technology could become the foundation of a new settlement model. If the system shows that specific works 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 in disputes for months with companies developing generative models, accusing them of using protected content without permission. Rather than completely blocking AI development in music, Sony is advocating for control tools and greater transparency. This is a signal that the future of the market may be based not on prohibitions, but on precisely measuring impact and fair compensation.
Sony's new technology is an attempt to organize the relationship between the music world and artificial intelligence. The system detects whether and how much AI was inspired by specific pieces, which could change the way creators are compensated. As algorithmically generated songs start to compete on the charts, tools for tracking influence become crucial.
Source: DigitalTrends.com
