Universal Music Group Ramps Up AI Patent Strategy Amid Industry Shift

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Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced a new phase in its approach to artificial intelligence, signaling a clear move toward long-term ownership and control over how AI interacts with music. Teaming up with IP asset management firm Liquidax Capital, UMG is now actively developing and filing patents to address a growing range of challenges and innovations tied to AI’s role in the music business.

This partnership also marks the formation of a new entity, Music IP Holdings, Inc., which will serve as the licensing arm for UMG’s AI-related patents.

Photo Credit: Leon Bennett/Getty Images

Building a Foundation for AI Threat Protection

Among the 15 patents UMG has filed so far, one of the most notable focuses is on AI threat protection. This suggests the company is proactively looking to shield artists and rights holders from unauthorized use of music through generative AI tools. As AI-generated content continues to gain traction, the music industry is responding with both caution and strategic defense. UMG’s approach appears to be focused on controlling not just how AI is used, but who gets to use it and under what terms.

Expanding the Scope of Music and AI Innovation

While the exact details of the patents haven’t been disclosed, UMG indicated they span a wide array of music-related applications. These include tools for musical collaboration, content and campaign creation, music in health and wellness, and systems for rights management and administration. Two of the patents have reportedly already been granted.

This push comes as AI continues to raise new questions around authorship, creativity, and revenue in music. With AI-powered bands like The Velvet Sundown gaining significant traction on streaming platforms, the line between machine-generated and human-created art is being tested in real time.

UMG’s Broader Position in the AI Landscape

The move to develop proprietary AI technologies is consistent with UMG’s recent track record. Last year, the company partnered with SoundLabs to offer AI-driven tools to artists in its roster. At the same time, UMG has taken a firm legal stance against unlicensed AI music generation, joining other major labels in lawsuits against Suno and Udio for alleged mass copyright violations.

In many ways, this patent push reflects a dual strategy: blocking misuse while also exploring ethical, licensed applications of AI that could benefit both artists and audiences.

What This Means for the Music Industry

As one of the industry's largest stakeholders, UMG’s aggressive patent filing signals a broader shift: AI is no longer just a disruptive force from the outside it’s becoming an internal priority.

By investing in the intellectual property around AI technology, UMG is laying claim to how that technology will function, evolve, and generate value inside the music ecosystem. For artists, labels, tech developers, and rights holders, this move could shape how collaborations, licensing, and distribution look in an AI-integrated future.

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