As of March 2026, major copyright news is dominated by AI, with the U.S. Supreme Court declining to hear a case regarding AI-generated art, reinforcing that only human-created works can be registered. Key issues include proposed legislation on AI training data (CLEAR Act), major streaming royalty disputes, and ongoing legal battles over online piracy and trademark infringement.
Key Copyright News (March 2026)
- AI and Copyright Ruling: The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a case regarding AI-generated artwork (“A Recent Entrance to Paradise”), affirming that, for now, copyright requires human authorship.
- AI Training Data Legislation: The proposed Copyright Labeling and Ethical AI Reporting (CLEAR) Act is advancing, which would impose stiff penalties ($5,000+ per work) for using copyrighted material in AI training without notice.
- Streaming Royalty Dispute: The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) is actively challenging Pandora, arguing their ad-supported tier is “interactive” and thus subject to higher, unpaid, artist royalties.
- Online Piracy Supreme Court Case: The Supreme Court is reviewing a $1 billion judgment against Cox Communications regarding user-driven piracy, which could redefine ISP liability.
- Notable Copyright Lawsuits:
- “Cupid” Litigation: New developments in the Fifty Fifty “Cupid” lawsuit indicate a second lost trial for the agency.
- Brand Infringement: Buc-ee’s has filed a new lawsuit regarding brand logo similarities.
- Music Royalties: A Florida court previously awarded significant damages in a 2021 case concerning the unauthorized release of music masters, highlighting, as of early 2026, the strict penalties for copyright infringement.