Kakui.ai debunks false claims on reports: Protecting copyright of AI-generated work

Last week, Hong Kong YouTube channel Kakui.ai (AI家駒) clarified that all AI-generated hits of the deceased lead singer of local rock band Beyond, Wong Ka Kui, were remixed and reproduced on its own, and the channel has no relationship with a local startup NFT Investment and Venture (NFTIV).

This came after emerging news reports revolved around NFTIV participating in the reproduction of AI-generated songs of the legendary singer, who passed away in 1993. Kakui.ai then uploaded a YouTube video containing its statement clarifying that its lack of association with NFTIV and the government-related projects.

In a conversation with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, a spokesperson from Kakui.ai said the team’s main members are four fans of Beyond and Wong, including professional musicians and computer engineers.

Inspired by some of the AI-generated cover songs resembling renowned singers on YouTube, the team felt they wanted to take the challenge and try to bring back the voice of a deceased star.

“Many people misunderstand that these AI songs are directly generated by typing text. In fact, to do it well, you must find a cover singer to sing it in person using your target's style. After singing many takes, we select some that are closer to the feeling of Wong Ka Kui and merge them together. So the emotional aspect is real. AI does not participate in this aspect, it's just like the final touch-up in photoshop.” 
 
The team also re-arranged the music, trying to make it feel more like Beyond's songs.

Each song takes about one to two weeks to produce. We also hire professionals to record real instruments and do professional mixing. If you seriously calculate it, the production cost is not much different from a full modern pop song.

In fact, the incident has stirred up conversations across local social platforms, as media intelligence firm CARMA saw Kakui.ai’s recent video which includes a statement from its team clarifying its lack of association with NFTIV and Cyberport, garnered over 200 comments as of 20 August.

CARMA also saw a total of 35.2% negative sentiments surrounding the incident. The majority of these discussions took place on YouTube and LIHKG. “Many of the comments expressed support for the Kakui.ai team while expressing anger towards NFTIV for wrongfully claiming someone else's work as their own. This highlights the dissatisfaction and frustration among netizens towards NFTIV's actions,” said CARMA’s HK GM Charles Cheung.

In addition to the anger towards NFTIV, there have been discussions regarding Cyberport, as well as the media publications that featured NFTIV in interviews. Netizens have raised concerns about the perceived lack of fact-checking and due diligence conducted by these entities prior to providing funding to NFTIV and featuring them in interviews.

Impacts on the innovation industry 

Industry players MARKETING-INTERACTIVE spoke to believed this could affect the reputation of the AI or innovation industry in both positive and negative ways.

On the positive side, it could showcase the potential of AI to create original and diverse music that pays homage to the classics, said David Ko, managing director, RFI Asia. “It could also inspire more artists and innovators to experiment with AI and explore new possibilities for musical expression,” he added.

On the other hand, it could also raise concerns about the authenticity and originality of AI-generated music, especially if it is accused of plagiarism or infringement, Ko added. He said:

It could also spark debates about the rights and responsibilities of AI creators and users, as well as the impact of AI on human creativity and culture.

Despite emerging concerns over the copyright infringement on AI-generated content or music, there are no existing copyright laws on portraits or human voice in Hong Kong at the moment.

As such, Celine Cheung, account director, RSVP Communications said on the road of creation, it relies heavily on the self-discipline of creators and the supervision of public opinion. She added:

This incident, whether based on personal interests or commercial interests, has already reflected the gap between legal protection and social development. It is a problem that the government and cultural circles need to face up to.

What can be done to mitigate the situation?

On the tech front, Lierence Li, co-founder and managing director, Market Hubs Intelligence said it is indeed difficult to regulate copyrighted, AI-inspired materials with the existing laws in Hong Kong. 

“The question of whether the AI-generated song belongs to the producer is also debatable. If it’s created entirely with AI technology that leverages a singer’s voice, then does its copyright belong to the person who reproduces it or the singer?”

To mitigate the situation, RFI Asia's Ko said one way to safeguard non-profit AI-inspired work on social platforms is to be transparent and respectful about the sources and methods of AI generation.

For example, if an AI-generated song is based on a famous singer’s voice or style, it should acknowledge that fact and give credit to the original artist, Ko said. "It should also make clear that the song is not endorsed or authorised by the artist or their estate," he added.

Additionally, it should follow the fair use principles and avoid using substantial or recognisable portions of existing songs without permission. It should also respect the wishes and preferences of the artists or their estates, especially if they are deceased or have expressed their views on AI-generated music.

Related articles:

7-SELECT's AI-inspired campaign brings audience to foodie-verse with Dee Gor
Interview: How HSBC stays close to consumers' hearts by leveraging the AI trend