What is STIM’s position with AI - artificial intelligence?

We at STIM work for our rightsholders, and our organization stems from copyright law and prevailing practice. A vital point within the law, and for STIM, is that musical works come from humans.

When you register a musical work with or via STIM, you acknowledge that the information you provide is correct. It means you are responsible for the information about the creators of the composition and lyrics of the work in question – and that you register the just shares.

We at STIM represent only copyright-protected music. Within the copyright law, a fundamental rule states that only musical works created by an actual individual have the right to copyright-protection. It is commonly known as made by the human hand. It means that music or lyrics created by AI are not copyright-protected. Therefore, you do not register AI-produced material with STIM.

For example, if a creator writes music and uses an AI to produce supporting lyrics, only the music can be registered and protected. At the same time, a creator who writes lyrics to AI-produced music may register their text contribution but not the music.

However, it is a different situation if a songwriter uses AI as a tool to produce or process music and lyrics. As long as the individual makes the free and creative choices that lead to the final shape of the music or lyrics, it meets the requirement to be made by the human hand. In this case, the creator may register the work with STIM if it has sufficient originality.

It is necessary to know that during STIM’s 100 years in the business, our focus has always been our creator’s best interest. In this period, the world has evolved with countless technical leaps, from the entry of the phonograph and numerous TV networks – to CDs, MP3 players, and entirely new consumption patterns. It often challenged the core of our business, but we always found ways to adapt and stay relevant. The development of AI happens at seemingly lightning speed, and we monitor the progress closely and will make sure to fit into the near future – accompanied by the law and the rest of the world.