Focus | Music and IP
Music and IP
This special issue explores the ways music marches to the beat of intellectual property – and vice versa. Discover industry data, why streaming services are reporting record royalties in markets once rife with piracy, and how technology is creating opportunities and challenges in terms of rights management and compensation.
Find out more about the IP behind your favourite music as we analyze the intersection of AI, creativity and copyright. Plus, international artists share practical approaches to IP navigation.
Royalties in the age of AI: paying artists for AI-generated songs
When creating AI-generated music, Gen Ai models are trained on existing datasets. Find out about royalties when Ai generates a song based on existing music.
US Copyright Office on AI: Human creativity still matters, legally
How much human input must have gone into AI-generated art for it to fall under copyright? When the US Copyright Office set out to answer this question, it found that the human touch makes all the difference. But there are distinctions.
Niclas Molinder: music creators need to shift their mindset about metadata and IP
Read how Swedish music producer Niclas Molinder urges creators to take better care of their metadata, so that the industry can take better care of them.
Beyond music rights: how K‑pop fandoms rally around intellectual property
K‑pop fans aren’t just consumers – they’re IP investigators who scan databases to determine their idols’ next moves. Meanwhile, the industry extends its IP strategy to capitalize on these super-engaged fandoms.
IFPI looks at a decade of digital transformation in the music industry
IFPI data shows that music revenue has doubled to US$29.6 billion since 2014, with streaming now accounting for 69 per cent. Read how the industry responds to unprecedented challenges posed by AI and how artists are flying, especially in regions once hardest hit by piracy.
Copyright protection in the music industry in China
China has made great strides in protecting music copyright since 1991. In a world of increased digitalization and AI, how are platforms, CMOs and new regulations shaping the industry’s future?
Huge opportunity: how IP is helping musicians in Cabo Verde
Known as the Queen of Morna and recognized across Portuguese-speaking Africa as a passionate copyright ambassador, Solange Cesarovna shares what she has learned about establishing a CMO and taking charge of artists’ rights.
Artificial Intelligence – the synergy of technology and creativity
AI and creativity can coexist. Sony Music's Geoff Taylor envisions ethical partnerships – not exploitation – as the path forward. Discover how AI transforms music while respecting IP rights.
V’ghn: Grenada’s prince of Soca music and WIPO’s newest IP Youth Ambassador
Grenada's rising Soca star V'ghn is emerging on the global stage not just through his growing follower base, but now as the latest IP Youth Ambassador for WIPO. Discover his insights on how musicians can transform their artistry into lasting livelihoods.
AI voice cloning: how a Bollywood veteran set a legal precedent
Playback singer Arijit Singh is the most followed artist on Spotify. When his voice was cloned, the resulting court case highlighted growing concerns around AI, IP and personality rights.
Stogie T: hip hop, IP and all that jazz
Pioneering South African hip hop artist, Stogie T, talks about his passion for hip hop music, his recent signing with Def Jam Africa, and how important it is for young musicians to understand how to protect and manage their IP rights.
Running Up That Hill: an ‘80s hit makes millions in royalties thanks to Stranger Things
Nearly 40 years after its release Kate Bush’s hit Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) is topping the charts thanks to Stranger Things (Season Four). Find out how this Netflix phenomenon has taken an ‘80s theme to the top once again.
In the Courts: Ed Sheeran Succeeds in Music Copyright Infringement Case, but it’s not over yet…
In May 2023, a US court found that Ed Sheeran’s hit Thinking Out Loud did not copy Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On. The crux of this case was that while parts of the two songs are similar, those parts are unprotected elements that are freely available for everyone to use.
Reggae: Jamaica’s gift to the world
This article is part of our archive, offering insights from past editions. Continue reading to discover how intellectual property can foster creativity, innovation and social progress.