Amateurs and professionals are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to create new, original music. Users of the social media app TikTok are using AI tools in order to create acappella versions that sound as if they were performed by some of the most famous musicians. Some users have generated millions of views with their AI-generated songs, while others have faced copyright claims by music industry giants. AI companies have been accused of violating copyright laws when they train their models to mimic artists’ songs and create derivative compositions.
It’s not easy to make a copyright case against AI-generated tracks, since they don’t actually copy anything that is protected by law. Even if AI creates new sounds that sound like a specific voice, the song would not be considered a copyright violation, even if it contained tiny bits of the original recording. In the near future, AI-based tools may be used to reexamine the laws governing publicity rights, instead of focusing on issues related to copyright.
While AI tools that spoof wealthy, famous individuals are the current focus, they could become a nightmare to the average person who is experiencing domestic abuse. Experts warn that AI voice clones are likely to become a major problem in the near future. Deepfakes that are explicit but not consented to by the user can be found on websites. Only a few states have laws that specifically address deepfakes. Unsigned independent musicians who lack the legal backing of big artists will be forced to wade their way through voice clones on their own.