JASRAC's Policy: Music Generated by AI, Both Lyrics and Music, Does Not Earn Copyright

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

歌詞も曲もAIが生成した音楽「著作物に該当しない」JASRAC方針

2026年6月13日8:43

生成AI・人工知能

生成AIを利用して作られた音楽が急速に広がる中、JASRACは、単純な指示に基づいてAIが歌詞も曲も生成したものは「人間の創作的寄与が認められない作品」として、著作物に該当しないなどとするガイドラインを公表しました。

JASRAC＝日本音楽著作権協会は11日、AIを利用した作品の取り扱いに関するガイドラインをホームページで公表しました。

この中で、単純な指示に基づいてAIが歌詞も曲も生成したものについては「人間の創作的寄与が認められない作品」として著作物に該当せず管理を引き受けないとしています。

このため、こうした楽曲の作者は、JASRACに楽曲の使用料の請求や分配を委託できないということです。

一方で、単純な指示に基づいてAIが生成したのが歌詞か曲のいずれかだけの場合は、人が創作した部分のみを管理する対象として取り扱うとしています。

こうした作品を届け出る際には、どの部分をAIが生成したかを記載するよう求めていて、虚偽があった場合は法的な責任が生じるとしています。

JASRACは「生成AIが近年急速に高度化し普及が進む中、ガイドラインを公表することで、音楽制作に関わる多くのクリエーターにはAIの取り扱いや、何に創作的な価値があるのかを知ってもらいたい」とコメントしています。

Translation

JASRAC's Policy: Music Generated by AI, Both Lyrics and Music, Does Not Earn Copyright

June 13, 2026, 8:43 AM

Generative AI/Artificial Intelligence

Amidst the rapid spread of music created using generative AI, JASRAC had published guidelines stating that works where both lyrics and music were generated by AI based on simple instructions would be considered as "works that human creative contribution is not observed" and therefore did not qualify as copyrighted works.

JASRAC (Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers) published guidelines on its website on the 11th regarding the handling of works using AI.

In the guidelines, it stated that works where both lyrics and music were generated by AI based on simple instructions were considered "works where human creative contribution is not observed" and therefore do not qualify as copyrighted works, and JASRAC would not undertake management of such works.

Therefore, the authors of such songs could not entrust JASRAC with the collection and distribution of royalties for the use of their music.

On the other hand, if only either the lyrics or music were generated by AI based on simple instructions, only the human-created portion would be subject to management.

When submitting such works, creators were required to indicate which parts were generated by AI, and any false information could result in legal liability.

JASRAC commented, "As AI generation technology has become increasingly sophisticated and widespread in recent years, we hope that by publishing these guidelines, many creators involved in music production will understand how to handle AI and what has creative value."

So, in Japan, works where both lyrics and music are generated by AI based on simple instructions are considered as works with no human creative contribution and therefore will not be qualified as copyrighted works. Apparently, AI is being used in our daily activities in many respects.