Anyone else find this a little troubling?

[p-ninety]

Apparently, Spotify's developing an algorithm that can "spot" when your song "plagiarizes" someone else's:

Spotify’s New Tool Will Notify Songwriters If They’re Plagiarizing

The streaming platform is currently working on a patent for the tool and claims it is more precise than other techniques.

uproxx.com

Sounds like something the publishing companies might love.

Is that a good thing?

 

[derekd]

Why would that be troubling? False positives, maybe?

What is worse, stopping plagiarism before it really gets going, or find yourself the target of a lawsuit like Coldplay vs Satriani or any number of suits?

 

[smallbutmighty]

Why would that be troubling? False positives, maybe?

What is worse, stopping plagiarism before it really gets going, or find yourself the target of a lawsuit like Coldplay vs Satriani or any number of suits?

I guess is depends on the complexity of the algorithm, but...false positives, big time. I can't plagiarize something I've never heard before, but Spotify has heard everything in existence.

This Spotify thing opens up the possibility that they are going to start issuing copyright strikes like YouTube, by comparing your new song to everything ever done by anyone at any time. If they do that, it's the end of new original music. It's pretty hard to arrange twelve notes in a way that somebody, somewhere hasn't done before.

I like the system we have now, more or less: if someone feels they have been infringed upon in a substantial way they can take action.

I got dibs on IV - V - I !!!!

 

[p-ninety]

What he said (smallbutmighty).

 

[A-Bone]

Why would that be troubling? False positives, maybe?

What is worse, stopping plagiarism before it really gets going, or find yourself the target of a lawsuit like Coldplay vs Satriani or any number of suits?

Copyright infringement only applies to instances of copying, whereas this focuses entirely on similarity. While it might not seem it on first blush, this idea fundamentally upends copyright altogether.

 

[Urobouros]

I have hard time envisioning a scenario where this doesn't have seriously negative unintended side effects. Likely more so for the artists that Spotify is trying to protect.

 

[Tidbit]

I wonder if John Fogerty knows about this?

 

[FuzzyAce]

no no no... this is here to benevolently help YOU! what could possibly go wrong?

 

[NotTheArrow]

They need to stay to the business of ripping off artists.

 

[natmiss]

1-4-5. Who has the oldest valid copyright on that?

 

[aiq]

At this juncture I would be happy to get any attention to one of mine.

 

[smallbutmighty]

They need to stay to the business of ripping off artists.

No, no, no. Why stop there when you have the technology to also generate revenue as the hall-monitor for the entire music industry?

Publishing companies can lick their chops over the weekly plagiarism report they subscribed to on Spotify. Ambulance-chasing lawyers, ACTIVATE!!

 

[A-Bone]

1-4-5. Who has the oldest valid copyright on that?

No one, really, although there are plenty of validly copyrighted tunes making use of 1-4-5 chord progressions.

 

[ClickClack]

"Yes, alright, please hold and I will transfer you to one of our senior copyright infringement attorneys."
[beep]
"Hi, Mr. Reynolds, there's a Mister Plant and a Mister Page holding for you on line two."

 

[smallbutmighty]

"Yes, alright, please hold and I will transfer you to one of our senior copyright infringement attorneys."
[beep]
"Hi, Mr. Reynolds, there's a Mister Plant and a Mister Page holding for you on line two."

"We would like to set up a conference call with these two gentlemen, Spirit, Kingdom Come, Greta Van Fleet, Whitesnake, and about 37 blues artists long since dead."

 

[somecafone]

Oh my sweet lord!

 

[Dadaserf]

I’ve never used Spotify, maybe it will be the seed for a musician based platform to distribute music?

 

[FuzzyAce]

 

[Clyde Billt]

Oh my sweet lord!

 

[Scott SG]

Apparently, Spotify's developing an algorithm that can "spot" when your song "plagiarizes" someone else's:

Spotify’s New Tool Will Notify Songwriters If They’re Plagiarizing

The streaming platform is currently working on a patent for the tool and claims it is more precise than other techniques.

uproxx.com

Sounds like something the publishing companies might love.

Is that a good thing?

how will it handle covers?