---
title: "Song lyrics as AI training material: a fair use dispute"
author: Martin Ebner
date: 2026-10-25
url: https://postgenerative.at/indications/2026-10-25/song-lyrics-as-ai-training-material-a-fair-use-dispute
lang: en
type: Indication
summary: Anthropic defends training on lyrics; music publishers see threats to their rights and the market for human songwriting.
tags:
  - Law
  - Culture
  - Arts & Creativity
sources:
  - title: "DER STANDARD / APA (22.10.2026): Anthropic hält Nutzung von Songtexten für KI-Training für rechtens."
    url: https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000345416/anthropic-haelt-nutzung-von-songtexten-fuer-ki-training-fuer-rechtens
license: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
alternate:
  de: https://postgenerativ.at/indizien/2026-10-25/songtexte-als-ki-trainingsmaterial-streit-um-fair-use
---

# Song lyrics as AI training material: a fair use dispute

According to DER STANDARD, Anthropic invokes US fair use in its dispute with music publishers. The company argues that AI training creates transformative content. Publishers counter that this produces competition for human songwriters. The report, dated 22 October 2026, states that no decision had yet been made. [1]

This example shows cultural works becoming both training material and the subject of conflicts over value creation and creative labour.

[Read the original article](https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000345416/anthropic-haelt-nutzung-von-songtexten-fuer-ki-training-fuer-rechtens)