Intellectual property rights Archives | Page 4 of 42

Sony targets AI music copyright use

Sony Group has developed technology designed to identify the original sources of music generated by AI. The move comes amid growing concern over the unauthorised use of copyrighted works in AI training.

According to Sony Group, the system can extract data from an underlying AI model and compare generated tracks with original compositions. The process aims to quantify how much specific works contributed to the output.

Composers, songwriters and publishers could use the technology to seek compensation from AI developers if their material was used without permission. Sony said the goal is to help ensure creators are properly rewarded.

Efforts to safeguard intellectual property have intensified across the music industry. Sony Music Entertainment in the US previously filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in 2024 over AI-generated music, underscoring wider tensions around AI and creative rights.

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AI-generated film removed from cinemas after public backlash

A prize-winning AI-generated short film has been pulled from cinemas following criticism from audiences. Thanksgiving Day, created by filmmaker Igor Alferov, was due to screen in selected theatres before feature presentations.

Concerns emerged after news of the screening spread online, prompting complaints directed at AMC Theatres. The chain stated it had not programmed the film and that pre-show advertising partner Screenvision Media had arranged the placement.

AMC confirmed it would not participate in the initiative, meaning the AI film will no longer appear in its locations. The animated short, produced using Google’s Gemini 3.1 and Nano Banana Pro tools, had recently won an AI film festival award.

The episode comes amid broader debate about artificial intelligence in Hollywood. Industry insiders suggest studios are quietly increasing AI use in production, even as concerns grow over job losses and economic uncertainty within Los Angeles’ entertainment sector.

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OpenAI faces legal action in South Korea from top networks

South Korea’s leading terrestrial broadcasters have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming that the company trained its ChatGPT model using their news content without permission. KBS, MBC, and SBS are seeking an injunction to halt the alleged infringement and to recover damages.

The Korea Broadcasters Association said OpenAI generates significant revenue from its GPT services and has licensing agreements with media organisations worldwide.

Despite this, the company has refused to negotiate with the South Korean networks, leaving them without recourse to ensure proper use of their content.

The lawsuit emphasises the protection of intellectual property and creators’ rights, arguing that domestic copyright holders face high legal costs and barriers when confronting global technology companies. It also raises broader questions about South Korea’s data sovereignty in the age of AI.

Earlier action against Naver set a precedent for copyright enforcement in AI applications.

Although KBS subsequently partnered with Naver for AI-driven media solutions, the current case underscores continuing disputes over lawful access to broadcast content for generative AI training.

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Chinese AI video tool unsettles Hollywood

A new AI video model developed by ByteDance has unsettled Hollywood after generating cinema-quality clips from brief text prompts. Seedance 2.0, launched in 2025, went viral for producing realistic action scenes featuring western cinematic characters such as Spider Man and Deadpool.

In response, major studios, including Disney and Paramount, issued cease and desist letters over alleged copyright infringement. Japan has also begun investigating ByteDance after AI-generated anime videos spread widely online.

Industry experts say Seedance 2.0 stands out for combining text, visuals and audio within a single system. Analysts in Singapore and Melbourne argue that Chinese AI models are now matching US competitors at the technological frontier.

As Seedance 2.0 gains traction, Beijing continues to prioritise AI and robotics in its economic strategy. The rise of tools from China has intensified debate in the US and beyond over copyright, regulation and the future of creative work.

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Google’s Lyria 3 advances generative AI music with transparency and copyright safeguards

Google has introduced Lyria 3 inside its Gemini app, marking its expansion into AI-generated music. The model enables users to create 30-second tracks from text prompts, images, or short videos. It also supports Dream Track on YouTube Shorts, strengthening AI integration in creator tools.

The development reflects the growing convergence of multimodal AI systems. Gemini can already generate text, images, and video, and music is now added to this ecosystem. This positions Google within the broader race to embed generative AI across digital content infrastructures.

Lyria 3 lowers technical barriers to music production. Users can generate instrumentals and lyrics without prior composition skills, simply by describing a mood, genre, or memory. This aligns with wider efforts to democratise creative expression through AI tools.

The model also introduces technical improvements over earlier audio systems. It offers greater control over tempo, vocals, and style, while producing more realistic and musically complex outputs. However, tracks are currently limited to 30 seconds, suggesting a phased rollout approach.

Transparency measures are embedded through SynthID watermarking technology. All AI-generated tracks include an imperceptible identifier to signal synthetic origin. Such mechanisms respond to increasing policy discussions on labelling and traceability of AI-generated content.

Google also emphasises safeguards related to intellectual property. The system is designed for original expression rather than direct imitation of specific artists. Prompts referencing known artists are treated as stylistic inspiration, and outputs are filtered against existing works, with reporting mechanisms available for potential rights violations.

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Microsoft outlines challenges in verifying AI-generated media

In an era of deepfakes and AI-manipulated content, determining what is real online has become increasingly complex. Microsoft’s report Media Integrity and Authentication reviews current verification methods, their limits, and ways to boost trust in digital media.

The study emphasises that no single solution can prevent digital deception. Techniques such as provenance tracking, watermarking, and digital fingerprinting can provide useful context about a media file’s origin, creation tools, and whether it has been altered.

Microsoft has pioneered these technologies, cofounding the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) to standardise media authentication globally.

The report also addresses the risks of sociotechnical attacks, where even subtle edits can manipulate authentication results to mislead the public.

Researchers explored how provenance information can remain durable and reliable across different environments, from high-security systems to offline devices, highlighting the challenge of maintaining consistent verification.

As AI-generated or edited content becomes commonplace, secure media provenance is increasingly important for news outlets, public figures, governments, and businesses.

Reliable provenance helps audiences spot manipulated content, with ongoing research guiding clearer, practical verification displays for the public.

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Lyria 3 brings AI-generated music to Gemini

The Gemini app has introduced Lyria 3, the latest music-generation model from Google DeepMind, enabling users to create 30-second tracks from text prompts, images, or videos. The feature is rolling out in beta, marking a further expansion of creative tools within the platform.

Users can customise genre, tempo, and vocals, while the system generates lyrics automatically when needed. Tracks include AI-generated cover art and can be shared directly, aiming to provide a simple way to produce short, personalised soundtracks rather than full compositions.

Audio created in the app is embedded with SynthID watermarking to identify AI-generated content, alongside new verification tools that allow users to check whether files were produced using Google AI.

The model is designed to produce original material rather than replicate specific artists, supported by filters and reporting mechanisms.

Availability initially covers multiple major languages for users aged 18 and over, with higher usage limits offered to premium subscribers. Lyria 3 is also being integrated into YouTube creator tools to enhance Shorts soundtracks as the rollout expands.

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Hollywood groups challenge ByteDance over Seedance 2.0 copyright concerns

ByteDance is facing scrutiny from Hollywood organisations over its AI video generator Seedance 2.0. Industry groups allege the system uses actors’ likenesses and copyrighted material without permission.

The Motion Picture Association said the tool reflects large-scale unauthorised use of protected works. Chairman Charles Rivkin called on ByteDance to halt what he described as infringing activities that undermine creators’ rights and jobs.

SAG-AFTRA also criticised the platform, citing concerns over the use of members’ voices and images. Screenwriter Rhett Reese warned that rapid AI development could reshape opportunities for creative professionals.

ByteDance acknowledged the concerns and said it would strengthen safeguards to prevent misuse of intellectual property. The company reiterated its commitment to respecting copyright while addressing complaints.

The dispute underscores wider tensions between technological innovation and rights protection as generative AI tools expand. Legal experts say the outcome could influence how AI video systems operate within existing copyright frameworks.

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LegalOn launches agentic AI for in-house legal teams

LegalOn Technologies has introduced five agentic AI tools aimed at transforming in-house legal operations. The company says the agents complete specialised contract and workflow tasks in seconds within its secure platform.

Unlike conventional AI assistants that respond to prompts, the new system is designed to plan and execute multi-step workflows independently, tailoring outputs to each organisation’s templates and standards while keeping lawyers informed of every action.

The suite includes tools for generating playbooks, processing legal intake requests and translating contracts across dozens of languages. Additional agents triage high-volume agreements and produce review-ready drafts from clause libraries and deal inputs.

Founded by two corporate lawyers in Japan, LegalOn now operates across Asia, Europe and North America. Backed by $200m in funding, it serves more than 8,000 clients globally, including Fortune 500 companies.

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Olympic ice dancers performing to AI-generated music spark controversy

The Olympic ice dance format combines a themed rhythm dance with a free dance. For the 2026 season, skaters must draw on 1990s music and styles. While most competitors chose recognisable tracks, the Czech siblings used a hybrid soundtrack blending AC/DC with an AI-generated music piece.

Katerina Mrazkova and Daniel Mrazek, ice dancers from Czechia, made their Olympic debut using a rhythm dance soundtrack that included AI-generated music, a choice permitted under current competition rules but one that quickly drew attention.

The International Skating Union lists the rhythm dance music as ‘One Two by AI (of 90s style Bon Jovi)’ alongside ‘Thunderstruck’ by AC/DC. Olympic organisers confirmed the use of AI-generated material, with commentators noting the choice during the broadcast.

Criticism of the music selection extends beyond novelty. Earlier versions of the programme reportedly included AI-generated music with lyrics that closely resembled lines from well-known 1990s songs, raising concerns about originality.

The episode reflects wider tensions across creative industries, where generative tools increasingly produce outputs that closely mirror existing works. For the athletes, attention remains on performance, but questions around authorship and creative value continue to surface.

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