A US judge has rejected the central “selection and arrangement” theory behind claims involving nearly 2,000 reggaeton songs, while leaving separate sound-recording allegations alive. The ruling is a major lesson in how cultural influence, rhythmic innovation and copyright protection are not always the same thing. One of the most important copyright cases linking Jamaican music with reggaeton has changed direction sharply. A US federal judge has rejected the central legal theo

New international work on attribution, fingerprinting, watermarking and AI training transparency suggests that accurate catalogue data may determine whether creators are licensed or disappear from the value chain. Editorial verification: A new international AI infrastructure initiative launched in 2026 is bringing together creators, rights holders, technology companies and technical experts around data identification, attribution, watermarking, fingerprinting and rights manag

Can Artists Trademark Their Voices? AI Replication Is Creating a New Music-Rights Frontier Recent efforts to register distinctive spoken phrases and vocal signatures show how performers are expanding brand protection beyond names, logos and conventional copyright. Artists and entertainment companies are increasingly exploring sound trademarks as artificial intelligence makes recognisable voices, phrases and vocal identities easier to imitate.A trademark is usually associated

Jamaica could support this market through workshops connecting musicians with game developers, animators and technology companies. Universities and creative-industry organisations could help build locally owned games that draw on Jamaican stories and musical heritage.