Home The Legality of AI Music

The Legality of AI Music

What AI creators need to know before hitting “publish.”

Is AI Music Legal?

Yes — but it depends on how it’s made.

AI music can be completely legal, as long as you understand a few key areas:

• Copyright ownership

• Vocal likeness and publicity rights

• Sampling and training data

• Commercial usage permissions

• Licensing and moral rights (where applicable)

Sunodrop is here to help you navigate these issues clearly, so your releases are safe, ethical, and ready for global distribution.

Common Legal Questions

1. Can I release a song made with an AI voice that sounds like Drake or Ariana Grande?

No. Using an AI model to imitate a real artist’s voice, style, or identity without permission can violate publicity rights, which protect an individual’s likeness, and may also lead to claims of passing off, false endorsement, or defamation.

Relevant Law:

• U.S. Right of Publicity (varies by state; California, New York, Tennessee offer strong protections)

• EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) includes rights over biometric data, including voice.

Example:
In 2023, the viral AI song “Heart on My Sleeve” imitated Drake and The Weeknd. It reached millions online but was removed under DMCA and legal threats from Universal Music Group.

Solution: Use AI vocals trained on original voices (like Kits.AI’s royalty-free vocal banks) or your own custom model.

2. Who owns the copyright to AI-generated music?

This depends on two factors:

• The platform's terms of use

• Whether a human played a creative role in shaping the result

Important: Under U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, USC) and UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, only works with "human authorship" qualify for copyright protection. AI-only works may not be protected in some jurisdictions.

Solution:

• Use platforms like Suno, Boomy, Udio, or Soundraw, which grant you commercial rights.

• Always have a creative hand in the process — guiding the prompts, selecting, editing, mixing, or mastering.

• Avoid works made purely by autonomous AI with no human intervention.

3. Can I use AI-generated music commercially (YouTube, Spotify, TikTok, Ads)?

Yes — if you own or license the content and it doesn’t violate others' rights.

Example: Many creators use Boomy or Soundraw to publish royalty-free AI music for content monetization.

Solution:

• Choose tools that offer clear commercial licenses.

• Avoid using copyrighted samples, celebrity voice clones, or replicated melodies.

• Sunodrop ensures your content is reviewed for compliance before distribution.

4. Is training an AI on copyrighted music illegal?

This is a legal gray area and subject to evolving court decisions.

Key Issues:

• Did the AI system use copyrighted songs as training data without a license?

• Can companies claim "fair use" under U.S. law? Courts are still deciding.

Relevant Laws & Cases:

• Getty Images v. Stability AI (UK High Court, ongoing)

• Universal Music v. Anthropic (2023) - over unauthorized lyric reproduction

Solution:

• As a user, you're generally not responsible for how the model was trained.

• Focus on creating original compositions, not mimicking existing songs.

• Use trusted platforms with transparent licensing and ethical training policies.

How Sunodrop Helps You Stay Legal

• We accept only original, safe-to-distribute AI music

• We support tools like Suno, Udio, Kits.AI, and Boomy that offer clear usage rights

• We provide guidelines to help you avoid risky content (celebrity clones, unlicensed samples)

• We stay up-to-date with international laws so you can focus on creating

Tips for Staying on the Right Side of the Law

• Don’t use AI voice models trained to imitate famous people without permission.

• Use royalty-free or licensed voices (e.g., Kits.AI, ElevenLabs voice packs).

• Avoid using lyrics, melodies, or samples that come from copyrighted songs.

• Check terms of service and usage rights for each AI tool you use.

• Keep records of your creation process (e.g., prompts, edits, mixing) as proof of human involvement.

International Perspectives on AI Music Law

United States:

• AI-only works are not copyrightable (per U.S. Copyright Office, 2022). Human input is required.

• Strong protection of publicity rights (varies by state).

European Union:

• Focus on data rights, voice as biometric data, and GDPR protections.

• EU AI Act (2024) may require transparency on AI usage.

United Kingdom:

• Allows copyright in computer-generated works, but protection may be weaker.

Japan:

• Currently allows AI to use copyrighted material for training under exceptions.

China:

• Proactively supports AI music, but laws are still developing. Emphasis on creator attribution.

In Summary

AI music is legal, but it must be original, respectful, and transparent.

If you:

• Use ethical AI tools

• Avoid copying artists or copyrighted songs

• Stay involved creatively

... then you can create, publish, and monetize safely.

At Sunodrop, we’re more than a distributor. We’re your guide through the future of music law.
We help you rise — the right way.

Have legal concerns or questions about your track? Contact us