The U.S. Copyright Office’s May 2025 pre-publication AI report addresses generative model training and licensing. It analyzes disputed legal questions; it is not a blanket permission or blanket prohibition for every training use.

The rights and policy issue

Outcomes can depend on whether protected content was copied, how it was obtained, the model’s use, any authorization and potential defenses. Copyright in recorded performances and copyright in musical compositions are distinct, and training disputes may implicate both.

Practical steps for artists and publishers

Rights owners should inventory masters and compositions separately, retain chain-of-title records and evaluate actual opt-in or licensing terms. Model users should avoid asserting that fair use has already conclusively resolved every music-training case.

Verification and further reading

Read the underlying source. For related assistance, explore music copyright registration support and publishing administration.

Published October 20, 2026. Educational commentary only; rules, platform policies and litigation may change. Specific legal conclusions depend on the facts.