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ARTICLE · 25 MAY 2023

Ghostwriter In The Machine: Copyright Implications For AI-Generated Imitations

Squire Patton Boggs LLP
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A track called "Heart on My Sleeve" went viral recently on social media with lead vocals sounding eerily similar to a certain crooner known for his lovelorn lyrics.

United StatesIntellectual Property
Joseph P. Grasser
Joseph P. Grasser
Susie Ruiz-Lichter
Susie Ruiz-Lichter

A track called "Heart on My Sleeve" went viral recently on social media with lead vocals sounding eerily similar to a certain crooner known for his lovelorn lyrics. The pantomimed artist was Drake, no stranger to thirsty pining, backed by R&B artist The Weeknd. The song, however, was credited to Ghostwriter977, the alias of an anonymous TikToker, and neither Drake nor The Weeknd participated in the track's creation. Rather, the vocals were generated using artificial intelligence tools.

AI-generated music – adopting the vocal styles of popular musicians – has become ubiquitous on TikTok and other social media platforms, racking up millions of views and listens. Much of the music is gimmicky—a rapper singing a shoegazer ballad or the theme song to an anime. But Heart on My Sleeve was impressively convincing, which has suggested to many that Ghostwriter977 is a sophisticated user of producer tools and programs, not just some "kid in the basement." Consequently, many

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