The Social Democratic Party (SPD) welcomed the ruling by the Munich Regional Court I concerning the case involving AI-generated music. SPD representatives Martin Rabanus and Helge Lindh stated on Friday that the decision represents an important signal for creative individuals and for a fair digital marketplace. They noted that those who utilize protected works to train AI systems and subsequently develop them into commercial offerings must ensure transparency, respect rights, and pay copyright holders fairly.
Rabanus and Lindh added that the SPD advocates for AI policies that allow for innovation while simultaneously safeguarding the rights of creatives. They acknowledged that generative AI can open up new cultural and technical possibilities, but cautioned against such advancements being predicated on providers indiscriminately using works from composers, text authors, and musicians without acquiring licenses or involving the creatives in the value chain.
The SPD politicians emphasized that the music sector, in particular, highlights the urgent need for clear regulations. Since creative works form the basis of many AI applications, they stressed that AI providers must disclose the content they used and accept fair licensing models. The parties suggested that developing models along the entire value chain, similar to those already being established by collecting societies in other fields, could offer a viable solution.
Previously, the Munich Regional Court I had largely ruled in favor of a claim filed by the music collecting society Gema against a developer of music creation software utilizing AI. Gema had accused the AI company of illegally using copyrighted music works, thereby committing copyright infringement. The court subsequently decided that the AI company requires Gema’s consent. This ruling, however, is not yet legally final.
