German music copyright organization GEMA initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI. This is the world's first legal action taken by a copyright collective management agency against an artificial intelligence provider, marking a new stage in the conflict between artificial intelligence and copyright. GEMA accuses OpenAI's ChatGPT of using copyrighted song lyrics without authorization. The lawsuit not only involves OpenAI's operating entities in the United States and Europe, but also raises widespread concerns about how artificial intelligence companies handle copyrighted material, and its impact may Affects the use of all types of protected content.
GEMA accuses OpenAI’s ChatGPT of repeating copyrighted song lyrics without obtaining proper permission or paying the creators. The lawsuit not only targets OpenAI LLC in the United States, but also involves OpenAI Ireland Ltd, which operates in Europe.
GEMA aims to resolve fundamental legal questions about how artificial intelligence companies use copyrighted material with this lawsuit. While the immediate focus of the lawsuit is song lyrics, its results could impact how AI companies handle all types of protected content, including services that generate audio files without permission.
"Our members' songs are not free raw material for AI companies' business models," said GEMA CEO Tobias Holzmüller. GEMA also pointed to potential differences between U.S. and European laws. While U.S. courts may accept the "fair use" defense, allowing certain unpaid uses, GEMA believes the European rules are stricter: AI companies must obtain a license if the rights holder has claimed that their work is protected. Conduct training.
To this end, GEMA recently proposed a licensing framework for AI systems, requiring a 30% share of net revenue from AI models. The program covers the initial training and subsequent use of artificial intelligence to generate musical content and is designed to compensate creators.
A GEMA study revealed that generative AI services could put 27% of songwriters’ income at risk. According to the survey, 71% of creators believe AI threatens their economic stability. Although OpenAI recently won a copyright lawsuit in the United States, the legal landscape regarding AI training, generation, and copyright data remains complex. In the United States, major music companies such as Sony are also filing lawsuits against AI music generators, and the controversy remains.
The editor of Downcodes believes that GEMA’s lawsuit will have a profound impact on the artificial intelligence industry. It will force artificial intelligence companies to re-examine their data acquisition and use methods, and may prompt the establishment of a more complete copyright protection mechanism. In the future, the game between artificial intelligence and copyright will continue, which requires the joint efforts of all parties in the industry to seek to balance innovation while protecting the rights and interests of creators.