HARMONY IN THE SCALE: PROTECTION OF MUSICAL WORKS IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Abstract: The article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of modern problems of protecting musical works in the context of the rapid development of digital technologies. The author considers the transformation of the music industry from analog media to online platforms, focusing on the scale of legal and illegal distribution of content, as well as the emergence of new threats in the form of streaming piracy, illegal copying, the use of AI, and digital remixing. The work presents the evolution of the copyright system —…
Dramatic and Musical Performers' Protection Act 1958. Public domain
The peer-reviewed article analyzes how digital technologies have transformed protection of musical works, moving from analog media to online platforms. It identifies streaming piracy, illegal copying, AI use, and digital remixing as emerging threats and reviews legal and technical tools including registration, DRM, watermarks, and blockchain, alongside international and Russian practice.
For entertainment and creator rights, the analysis matters because AI-assisted creation and distribution increase the risk of unauthorized use of musical works and challenge existing collective management. By publication date 2025-10-31, the article offers analysis and recommendations rather than measured outcomes of interventions, leaving uncertainty about effectiveness of proposed harmonization, monitoring, and blockchain approaches.
- Article traces shift from analog media to online platforms and scale of legal and illegal distribution.
- Lists new threats including streaming piracy, illegal copying, use of AI, and digital remixing.
- Reviews legal and technological protection methods such as registration, deposit, DRM, digital watermarks, and blockchain.
- Analyzes international experience, judicial practice, Russian legislation, and collective rights management.
- Highlights AI integration into music creation, blockchain and NFT solutions, and automatic monitoring systems.
Integration of AI into music creation enables new forms of infringement that complicate protection of musical works through illegal copying and digital remixing.
The rundown
The work frames the music industry's move from analog media to online platforms and examines the scale of lawful and unlawful distribution. It catalogs evolving risks including streaming piracy and unauthorized copying alongside AI use and digital remixing.
It surveys the copyright system's evolution from collective oral traditions to individual and collective protection models, and details methods such as registration, deposit, DRM, digital watermarks, and blockchain. It also reviews international practice, Russian law, and collective management strengths and weaknesses, with focus on AI creation, NFT solutions, and automatic monitoring.
Sources
- Peer-reviewedТруды по Интеллектуальной Собственности2025-10-31
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