Music IP Holdings (MIH), a joint venture between Universal Music Group and Liquidax, has licensed a portfolio of more than 24 artificial intelligence patents to Udio and GRAI. The agreements were disclosed in a statement from MIH.
Patent portfolio and licensing terms
MIH said it has secured more than 24 patents, with over 50 others pending. In a statement, the venture described the portfolio:
“The portfolio spans the full process of creating, licensing and commercializing AI-generated content: from the moment a prompt is entered through moderation, watermarking, identifier tagging, authorization, licensed distribution and payment across both open and closed ecosystems.”
The venture’s website includes an application for qualified organizations seeking to license the patents. It also states that using patented technology without a license is infringement, even if the user wrote the underlying code.
In MIH’s view, technology that does any of the following needs a license:
- Generates music
- Transforms audio into new structures
- Uses novel audio workflows
- Analyzes or decomposes music
Early licensees: Udio and GRAI
Udio’s participation follows prior litigation with Universal Music Group. The generative AI platform is now working with Universal Music Group, Warner Music and Merlin, but not Sony Music, on a licensed product.
GRAI, an AI-powered remix and social listening app based in Warsaw, closed a $9 million seed round in April led by Khosla Ventures. Khosla Ventures also holds stakes in Hook and Splash; Hook recently signed what was described as a landmark deal with Universal Music Group.
Statements from executives
“Throughout every major shift in digital music, the most successful models have been built by bringing technology companies and rightsholders together around clear, practical licensing frameworks. MIH’s portfolio creates that bridge for generative AI, giving responsible innovators a path to market while helping protect artists, songwriters and the value of their work. Barefoot Media is proud to help bring this framework to the global creative and technology communities.”
Campbell said in the statement.
“This portfolio is designed to do both: creating new opportunities for responsible innovation while giving artists, songwriters and rightsholders stronger protections and the ability to share in the value their work creates.”
Drolet said.
“The portfolio was developed to enable a standard that provides creators of all types the ability to generate, track and ensure new AI revenue streams while simultaneously providing strong options to manage unauthorized AI outputs.”
Drolet added.
Next steps
It is not yet clear whether platforms such as Klay Vision and Spotify will need to negotiate patent agreements with MIH. The venture opened its Music Row headquarters last November and is seeking additional licensing deals.
