Everyone's suing AI over text and pics. But music? You ain't seen nothing yet

Jan 8, 2024 ·

A new technology developed by a team of scientists from the University of Washington could revolutionize how music copyright works in the future. The team used artificial intelligence (AI) to create an algorithm that can recognize songs and determine who owns the rights to them.

The researchers created an AI system called MusiCop that uses neural Nets, a type of machine learning, to detect patterns in music and identify when a song matches another. This means MusiCop is able to recognize not only the melody of a song but also other important characteristics such as the lyrics, tempo, and instrumentation. This information is then used to create a digital fingerprint that can be used to identify copyright holders.

Once a copyright holder has been identified, MusiCop allows them to set rules around how their song should be used. For example, they can choose to grant permission for their song to be shared on certain platforms or set restrictions on how it is used. They are also able to specify licensing fees and royalties that should be paid if someone wants to use their song.

MusiCop is a major breakthrough in copyright law because it simplifies the process of identifying and tracking music ownership. It also provides a way for copyright holders to have more control over how their music is used and allows them to collect royalties for their work.

Overall, this new AI-based technology is set to revolutionize the way music copyright works in the future. It will make it easier to identify and protect music ownership, while also allowing copyright holders to set rules around how their music is used and receive fair compensation for their work.