Anthropic limits Claude’s use of copyrighted song lyrics in new deal with Universal

Anthropic has reached a settlement with major record labels to restrict its AI chatbot Claude from reproducing or generating copyrighted song lyrics.

Key settlement terms: The agreement between Anthropic and music publishers including Universal Music Group and Concord Music Group establishes clear boundaries for AI interaction with protected song lyrics.

• Anthropic must prevent Claude and future AI products from reciting copyrighted lyrics or creating derivative works based on them
• The company will maintain existing blocks against reproducing protected lyrics
• Record labels retain the right to request modifications if they find AI responses unsatisfactory

Current implementation status: Claude’s behavior already reflects the settlement terms through its approach to handling copyrighted content.

• The AI chatbot actively refuses requests to share lyrics from Universal Music artists like Taylor Swift
• Similar restrictions apply to copyrighted text from prominent authors outside the scope of this lawsuit
• Internal analysis of songs appears to remain permitted, provided no verbatim reproduction of lyrics occurs

Legal context and industry impact: This settlement partially resolves a broader 2023 lawsuit while highlighting ongoing tensions between AI companies and content creators.

• Anthropic maintains that using copyrighted material for AI training constitutes “fair use” under copyright law
• The agreement represents a significant precedent for how AI companies handle copyrighted creative works
• Similar concerns have emerged from book publishers and news organizations regarding unauthorized use of their content

Technical developments: Anthropic continues to advance its AI capabilities while implementing these content restrictions.

• The company recently released its Claude 3.5 Haiku model
• Anthropic claims its 3.5 Sonnet model surpasses OpenAI’s GPT-4 in performance

Future implications: This settlement could serve as a template for resolving similar disputes between AI companies and content creators, though questions remain about how to balance AI advancement with intellectual property rights while ensuring fair compensation for creative works.