Universal Music Group Asks Congress for Regulations on AI

Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music rights company, is asking the U.S. Congress to enact multiple laws aimed at protecting creators and other rights holders against copyright infringement by AI technology users as AI has become more and more prevalent in recent months.

What do they want? Jeffrey Harleston, General Counsel and Executive Vice President for Business and Legal Affairs at UMG, spoke at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on intellectual property on Wednesday and shared three specific laws UMG is asking for including a nationwide right of publicity law; the ability of copyright owners to see what has gone into the training of AI models; and the labeling of AI-generated content.

"Right of publicity" is an intellectual property right protecting against the unauthorized use of a person's identity including aspects like their voice and name. Around half of U.S. states have right of publicity laws. UMG is asking for a federal statute for full protection and less confusion. 

What they're saying: "AI in the service of artists and creativity can be a very very good thing, but AI that uses or … appropriates the work of these artists and creators and their creative expression … without authorization, without consent simply is not a good thing," Harleston said. "AI developers have a responsibility to obtain permission from copyright holders to train their AI models on copyrighted material and that "it absolutely could be done, as the digital platforms that exist today … license millions and millions of songs every week."