TONO launches AI policy for music creators

TONO is today launching guidelines for how songwriters, composers and lyricists obtain rights in music created in interaction with artificial intelligence. 

– Music creators have always been early adopters of new technology. For many songwriters, composers and lyricists, artificial intelligence provides new tools that can support their creative process. We want to take a clear stance and have therefore developed clear guidelines for songwriters, composers and lyricists who use artificial intelligence in their creative work, says Karl Vestli, CEO of TONO. 

You can read the guidelines here.TONO's new AI guidelines are part of a larger Nordic initiative. TONO's Nordic sister societies Koda (Denmark), Teosto (Finland), Stim (Sweden) and Stef (Iceland) are also introducing similar rules. 

Listen to TONO's podcast about AI and music creation here. with technology journalist and speaker Eirik Solheim, composer Peter Baden and TONO's Inger Elise Mey. 

Only humans have copyrights. 

The new guidelines emphasize that only humans can own copyright. This is in accordance with both Norwegian and international law, which states that copyright can only be attributed to human creativity. In Norway, copyright is regulated through the Copyright Act. 

– As long as human music creators contribute their own creative and original efforts, they are free to use all legal AI tools in their music creation and obtain copyright for the music, says Vestli. If enten If the text or composition of a musical work is 100 percent AI-generated, without any creative input, the work can still be registered in TONO. In such cases, the author will not receive rights in the AI-generated part, only in the part of the work that they have contributed to themselves. Musical works that are 100 percent AI-generated cannot be registered in TONO or other Nordic management companies. 

Demanding transparency from AI services 

Although music creators are free to use legal AI tools in their music creation, there are still some challenges associated with this. Several AI companies are not open about what music and data they have used in training their services and models. 

– We encourage all music creators to be aware of which AI tools they use. When AI services are not open about the training material they have used, you are at risk of violating both your own and others' copyright without realizing it. All members are responsible for ensuring that the works they register are their own, says Vestli. 

TONO and our sister societies work internationally to legislate transparency around training materials and thus ensure payment to our members.