Understanding Copyright Law for AI-Generated Songs: A Comprehensive Guide
With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in the music industry, creators are increasingly exploring the use of AI to generate music tracks and lyrics. This has raised many questions regarding copyright protection, particularly when it comes to AI-generated songs. This article aims to clarify the legal aspects of copyrighting songs that are generated using AI. We will examine the specific clauses related to AI-generated music, discuss the process of registering such songs with the US Copyright Office, and explore the implications of copyright law in light of recent judicial decisions.
Copyright Protection for AI-Generated Lyrics
Firstly, it is important to clarify that song lyrics are automatically copyrighted the moment they are written down. This means that, regardless of whether you use AI to assist in the process, the lyrics you create retain their copyright status from the moment you first write them down. The United States Copyright Office does not require any special notice or registration to establish the copyright for your lyrics.
When you combine your AI-generated lyrics with a public domain music track, the copyright status of the lyrics does not change. However, if you wish to register your entire song with the US Copyright Office, you must specify which parts of the song are AI-generated. This is crucial because any AI-generated portion of the music would fall under the public domain and would not have any copyright protection. Conversely, the lyrics you wrote would remain fully protected by copyright law.
Registering AI-Generated Songs
Registering an AI-generated song with the US Copyright Office involves several key steps. You can include both your content and AI-generated content in the registration, but it is essential to clearly indicate what parts of the song are AI-generated. This ensures that only the parts you have written are protected by copyright.
When you register a song with the US Copyright Office, you should specify that you are the author of the lyrics, even if the AI generated the music. This is because you retain full copyright rights only for the content you create. The publicly available AI-generated portions of the song will not be protected by copyright and can be used freely by anyone.
Legal Rights Over AI-Generated Music Tracks
In cases where AI is used to create a music track, the situation is slightly different. A song generally consists of two main components: the lyrics and the melody. The melody refers to the notes that are sung when performing the lyrics. Anything else, like the arrangement, is considered additional to the core composition.
If you use AI to create a music track and then add your lyrics, you would own the song in its entirety, including the lyrics and the music. However, it is also important to consider the ownership of the specific recording of the song. The recording can include various elements, such as the sound quality, the specific instruments used, and the overall arrangement, which may not be protected by your copyright.
Court Decisions on AI-Generated Artwork
Recent legal rulings have emphasized that artwork generated by AI alone is not subject to copyright protection. A notable case, Thaler v. United States, (1:22-cv-01564 D.D.C. 2022), ruled that legal ownership of an AI-generated artwork cannot be granted to an AI, as AI cannot hold legal rights or engage in copyright proceedings. This decision supports the argument that AI-generated content does not have inherent copyright protection.
Accordingly, if you use AI-generated music, you would only have the rights to the content you have written. If the AI created the melody, those notes would not be subject to copyright protection. It is essential to understand that AI-generated music and lyrics, while useful in creative processes, do not confer full copyright protection in the way that original human-composed works do.
Conclusion
Copyrighting a song generated by AI involves a nuanced understanding of both the legal protections and the specific clauses of the US Copyright Office. By clearly indicating the AI-generated parts of your song, you can ensure that only the parts you created are protected by copyright. It is crucial to stay informed about the latest developments in AI-generated content to navigate this complex but exciting landscape of modern music creation and copyright law.