Sony Music Critiques UK Copyright Reforms Amid AI Deepfake Takedowns

Sony Music has raised concerns regarding the UK government's proposed copyright reforms, disclosing that it has requested the removal of over 75,000 AI-generated deepfakes featuring its artists. This music giant criticizes the proposed changes, calling them “rushed, unbalanced, and irreversible,” suggesting they could damage the UK's creative economy.

In its response to the government’s consultation on AI and copyright law, which concluded on February 25, Sony detailed how these reforms could threaten an industry that adds £7.6 billion (approximately USD $8.23 billion for 2024) to the UK economy annually. The consultation aims to create a “text and data mining” exemption, which would enable AI companies to utilize copyrighted material for training without seeking permission unless creators specifically choose to opt out.

Sony Music expressed its concern, noting that “Property owners should not have to proactively assert rights over every piece of their property in order not to have them expropriated.” They analogized this situation to a government requiring homeowners to label all their possessions to prevent theft.

The company highlighted the challenges the music industry faces regarding unauthorized AI reproductions. Sony reported that it has sought takedowns of AI-generated materials featuring popular artists like Harry Styles, Beyoncé, and Queen. In total, they have requested more than 75,000 removals.

In February, Rob Stringer, the Chairman of Sony Music Group, joined other industry leaders in opposing the proposed UK rules, partnering with Universal Music Group’s Sir Lucian Grainge and Warner Music Group’s Robert Kyncl. Moreover, these proposals have sparked protests from over 1,000 artists, including Kate Bush, Annie Lennox from Eurythmics, and Damon Albarn from Blur and The Gorillaz, who released a “silent album” titled Is This What We Want?. The album features a back cover track list that states, “The British government must not legalize music theft to benefit AI companies.”

Data indicates that the reported deepfakes reflect only a small part of the AI-generated music inundating online platforms. For example, the music streaming service Deezer reported that approximately 10,000 new AI recordings are uploaded daily. AI music generation firms like Mubert claim to have created around 100 million tracks, while another application, Boomy, reported generating 17 million.

AI companies Suno AI and Udio are also facing scrutiny over allegations that their models were developed without proper authorization. Sony Music has taken legal action against these companies, initiating federal copyright infringement lawsuits last June, seeking as much as $150,000 for each copyright-infringing work.

Sony warned that the proposed opt-out system is “unworkable and illusory,” citing that even a single copy of a work online without appropriate tagging could be misused. Last year, Sony Music publicly defended its rights concerning content used in text and data mining, especially for AI development.

While Sony is critical of the copyright proposal, it does not oppose AI innovation. The company stated it is engaged in negotiations to license its intellectual property to AI developers. For instance, in 2023, Sony teamed up with David Gilmour of Pink Floyd to launch an AI remix project, allowing fans to remix both audio and artistic components.

This conflict emerges as a period when AI companies are securing substantial funding. Microsoft's, Google’s, and Amazon’s investments account for about two-thirds of the $27 billion raised by AI companies in 2023, as per reports from private market researchers. Suno AI alone raised $125 million last year, and Udio acquired $10 million, significantly surpassing the average UK AI investment of £4.6 million ($5 million) in 2022.

The UK government's proposals are reportedly part of a broader strategy to establish the UK as “the best place to start and scale an AI business,” as stated by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. However, Sony cautioned that these measures would likely decrease, rather than enhance, AI licensing activities within the UK market.

Many other organizations and creators from various media and music fields support Sony's perspective, including well-known artists such as Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney. Sir Elton recently remarked in an interview that the UK’s status as a leader in the arts and culture sector is at risk without robust copyright protections, while Sir Paul urged the government to reconsider its approach to safeguarding creators' rights.

Sony, Copyright, AI