Source: European Parliament
Article 50 of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act[1] establishes a number of transparency obligations for both providers and deployers of AI systems in relation to artificially generated or manipulated content, including artistic content.
For instance, providers of AI systems that generate synthetic audio are required to ensure that the outputs are marked in a machine-readable format and detectable as artificially generated or manipulated.
AI providers must use content authentication techniques, such as AI watermarking or metadata identification to label AI-generated music, making it distinguishable from human-generated content.
Only AI systems that perform an assistive function for standard editing or do not substantially alter the input data, such as AI-powered music editing tools that make minor adjustments to existing music, are exempted from this obligation.
The 2019 Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market (DSM Directive)[2] introduced a set of rules to ensure the fair remuneration of authors and performers when they license or transfer their rights for the exploitation of their works or other subject matter, including in the digital environment.
The Commission will examine the application of these rules in the context of the review of the directive, which is due no sooner than 7 June 2026.
Regarding the use of copyright-protected content in the training of AI models, the Commission is also committed to supporting the effective application of Article 4 of the DSM Directive, including the possibility for right holders to reserve their rights, as well as to facilitate the development of a licensing market for the use of protected works for AI purposes.
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act).
- [2] Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market and amending Directives 96/9/EC and 2001/29/EC, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/790/oj