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ARTICLE · 20 MARCH 2026

Copyright In Compilations: AI‑Generated Music And Playlists Under Canadian Law

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Artificial Intelligence (AI)‑generated music and playlists have become commonplace on various streaming platforms. An emerging issue is whether songs and playlists created or co-authored by AI qualify...

CanadaIntellectual Property
Benjamin Reingold
Benjamin Reingold
Makda Yohannes
Makda Yohannes
Stephen D. Burns
Stephen D. Burns
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Artificial Intelligence (AI)‑generated music and playlists have become commonplace on various streaming platforms. An emerging issue is whether songs and playlists created or co-authored by AI qualify for copyright protection or as copyright‑protected "compilations" under Canadian law.

In this post we outline some of the key intellectual property considerations in Canada for organizations advising or working with artists, labels, content platforms and other stakeholders deploying AI tools for various content creation, with a focus on AI-generated music and curated playlists.

Copyright: Works and Compilations

Generally, the Copyright Act (the Act) provides that a copyright in relation to a work gives the owner the exclusive right to reproduce, publish, or publicly perform a work or any substantial part of it. It also grants exclusive rights to create adaptations, translations, recordings, films or other derivative forms and to communicate or exhibit the work to the public.

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The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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